NCJ Number
63191
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 52 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 336-343
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1975 ON POLICE DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVENESS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE DISCUSSED; SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE INCLUDED.
Abstract
BEFORE THE SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 1975 THERE WERE SEPARATE AUTHORIZED ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN OFFICERS. POLICEWOMEN HAD THEIR OWN RANK STRUCTURE. IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HIGHEST RANK FOR A WOMAN IN A PARTICULAR FORCE WAS SUPERINTENDENT, THEN NO MATTER HOW WORTHY OF FURTHER PROMOTION A WOMAN WAS SHE WOULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED FOR A HIGHER POSITION. ALTHOUGH RECRUIT TRAINING WAS IDENTICAL FOR MEN AND WOMEN, WOMEN WERE ASSIGNED TO SUCH DUTIES AS OFFICE WORK AND DEALING WITH FEMALE VICTIMS AND PRISONERS. THE 1975 ACT VIRTUALLY ABOLISHED THE SEPARATE STRUCTURE AND WOMEN WERE ASSIGNED TO ALL SECTIONS AS MEN WERE. IN THEORY, THIS CHANGE WAS ACCEPTABLE. HOWEVER, IN ALL OF THE FORCES WHERE COMPLETE INTEGRATION HAD TAKEN PLACE, NO PROVISION HAD BEEN MADE FOR ANYONE TO DO THE WORK PREVIOUSLY DONE BY POLICEWOMEN. THIS MEANT THAT SUCH THINGS AS MISSING PERSONS ENQUIRIES AND FOLLOWUP INTERVIEWS WERE NOT RECEIVING THE SAME EMPHASIS ON SOME FORCES DUE TO A LACK OF RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE. CASES INVOLVING CHILD WELFARE AND ABUSE WERE SIMILARLY HANDLED LESS EFFICIENTLY. IN ADDITION, STATISTICS DO NOT SUPPORT THE ACT'S EFFECTIVENESS IN FACILITATING STATED OBJECTIVES SUCH AS THE PROMOTION OF CAPABLE WOMEN. IN 1976 ONLY 46 WOMEN WERE PROMOTED THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AND WALES, AND IN 1977 THE FIGURE DECREASED TO 38. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT BOTH MEN AND WOMEN BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON SPECIALIST UNITS FROM THE BEGINNING OF SERVICE. MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD WORK TOGETHER PERFORMING THOSE TASKS PREVIOUSLY HANDLED EXCLUSIVELY BY WOMEN. THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING MAY ELECT TO REMAIN IN SPECIALIST UNITS, BUT ALL FORCE MEMBERS WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED A BASIC LEVEL OF COMPETENCE. WOMEN MUST BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE AND TO WORK IN OTHER AREAS IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF FORCE EFFECTIVENESS. DATA ARE INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE. (LWM)