NCJ Number
165390
Journal
CJ International Volume: 12 Issue: 6 Dated: (November-December 1996) Pages: 11-16
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This overview of the status of policewomen in Australia addresses the recruitment of women, the deployment of women as specialists or generalists, the representation of women in senior ranks and management, police culture and attitudes toward women police, and working conditions.
Abstract
The scarcity of female officers in Australian police services indicates a need for practices to be re-examined. Discussion with police recruit offices throughout Australia shows that the ratio of male to female applicants to join the police services is four to one. A major research project on the attitude of young people toward policing as a career would inform attempts to improve all recruiting, including that of women and members of minority groups. Regarding selection after applying, physical requirements are probably only one reason women are not selected. In application, selection, and training Australian police organizations are failing in the recruitment of women. Some policewomen claim they have been discriminated against in their deployment, and although there is little research evidence that this is so, the matter should be explored. Policewomen are scarce in supervisory positions. It is characteristic of Australian business that women are underrepresented in senior management, but in policing the situation is even worse. The next steps in the maximization of the contribution of women to policing must be system changes, information changes, and attitude changes. The actors who can make these possible are the police leaders and the police academics. They have a professional responsibility to address the various issues, and they have the resources. 23 references