Women in the Met reaches 90th anniversary

It is ninety years since the first female
Metropolitan Police officers donned their uniforms and began policing London. It was back in 1919 when the first 'Metropolitan Police
Women Patrols' took to the streets, led
by Mrs Sofia Stanley, Superintendent in
charge and assisted by Mrs Elinor
Robinson and three sergeants.

Flash forward to 2009 and the MPS has continued to build upon those foundations with 8,000 female officers, this equates to around one in four of the overall total and some of who lead the way on the policing agenda.

It took four years since the first Met Police women were appointed for them to be given the power of arrest. Below is a brief summary of key historical dates:

1919 Women Police established in London,
the first Metropolitan Police Women
Patrols went onto the streets on 17th
February 1919.They had no power of
arrest.
1923 Women given power of arrest.
1928 Women over 21 given the right to
vote.
1937 Women authorised to take fingerprints.
1939 Outbreak of war - Women police officers
take on extra duties and responsibilities.
Strength: 128 Uniform and 8
CID.
1948/9 Women admitted to the Police
Federation. Age limit lowered to 20.
Strength: 235 Uniform and 21 CID.
1955 Awards of the George Medal to WPS
Ethel Bush and WPC Kathleen Parrott
for courage in service during an investigation
into sex offences.
1959 Strength: 429 Uniform and 49 CID.
1970 Women appointed to Mounted
Branch.
1971 First women appointed as dog handlers.
1985 Modern uniforms introduced, with reinforced
Bowler hat.
2009 Cressida Dick appointed as Assistant
Commissioner for Specialist Crime.
Britain's highest ever ranking woman
police officer in the MPS