NCJ Number
56793
Journal
Polizia Moderna Volume: 30 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 16-19,51
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
AN EXAMINATION OF TOTAL INTEGRATION OF MALE AND FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE BRITISH POLICE IN DUTIES AND RIGHTS BY AN ITALIAN JOURNALIST SHOWS MAINLY POSITIVE RESULTS, WITH SOME LINGERING PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE MAJORITY OF POLICEWOMEN EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE CONCEPT OF TOTAL EQUALITY BUT FRUSTRATION AT THE FAILURE OF THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE POLICE INTEGRATION LAW. POLICEWOMEN VIEWED THE MAIN ROADBLOCKS TO THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW AS THE INABILITY OF THEIR MALE PARTNERS TO STOP BOTH REGARDING THEM AS MEMBERS OF THE WEAKER SEX AND PROTECTING AND SHIELDING THEM FROM PHYSICALLY DEMANDING TASKS AND DANGERS, ESPECIALLY NIGHT DUTY IN PATROL CARS. POLICEWOMEN OBJECTED TO BEING PERCEIVED AS A RESPONSIBILITY OR BURDEN, BY THEIR MALE COLLEAGUES, POINTING TO THE FACT THAT SOME POLICEWOMEN ARE TALLER, MORE MUSCULAR THAN THEIR PARTNERS, AND CAPABLE OF COPING WITH PHYSICAL STRESS AND DANGER. ADVOCATES OF TOTAL EQUALIZATION ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT BEING ENTRUSTED EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE PHYSICAL SEARCH OF FEMALE SUSPECTS, A DUTY WHICH MALE OFFICERS APPEAR DETERMINED TO AVOID. AMONG THE ADVANTAGES OF THE POLICE INTEGRATION LAW, POLICEWOMEN PRAISED THEIR RELEASE FROM ACTING AS STREET BAITS TO ENTRAP SEXUAL OFFENDERS AND FROM THEIR BEING LIMITED TO DEALING WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN. HOWEVER, SOME POLICEWOMEN QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF THE TOTAL INTEGRATION OF POLICE DUTIES, NOTING THAT THE MAJORITY OF FEMALE OFFICERS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BREAK DOWN DOORS WHEN FORCIBLE ENTRY IS REQUIRED, NOR ARE THEY AS EFFECTIVE AS MALE OFFICERS IN INTIMIDATING VIOLENT CRIMINALS. FEMALE INTUITION, DIPLOMACY, AND TACT ARE NEEDED, ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN DEALING WITH RAPE VICTIMS AND SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN. POLICEWOMEN HOLDING THESE VIEWS FAVOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE TOTAL POLICE INTEGRATION BEFORE THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT (IN DECEMBER 1978) WHICH WOULD EXEMPT FEMALE OFFICERS FROM APPROXIMATELY 5 PERCENT OF POLICE ASSIGNMENTS THAT ARE TOO STRENUOUS FOR A WOMAN. BRITISH POLICEWOMEN VOICED A PLEA TO THEIR MALE COLLEAGUES TO REGARD THEM AS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AND FELLOW OFFICERS, WITH TALENTS AND SKILLS EQUAL TO AND COMPLEMENTING THEIR OWN, AND INVITED THEM TO ASSIST IN PURSUING COMMON OBJECTIVES. --IN ITALIAN. (LGR)