IAWP centenary conference 2015

The International Association of Women Police are pleased to report that their 53rd Training Conference succesfully took place in Cardiff, Wales, between 23rd and 27th August.  This prestigious event also celebrated the IAWP's centenary as well as 100 years of Policewomen in the UK.  The city was ‘invaded’ by over 600 delegates and supporters, from nearly 70 countries.  Including UN Police Mission Peacekeepers and Board Members of the European Network of Policewomen.

This was the third time the conference has been held in the UK, previous ones being in Birmingham in 1996 and Leeds in 2005, and they all have one thing in common – one of the Conference Directors! Colleagues have expressed the opinion that Carolyn Williamson must be certifiably insane to take on a third and she is adamant it will be her last.

The week started with a moving Opening Ceremony in St David’s Hall, where delegates were entertained by the Gwent Police Male Voice Choir and a young singer, Samantha Spragg (daughter of a local officer), who is just commencing her professional career. Welcoming addresses were given by Jane Townsley, President of IAWP; Peter Vaughan, Chief Constable of South Wales Police;  Dee Collins, President of the British Association for Women In Policing and Councillor Dilwar Ali, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cardiff.   Delegates also witnessed the traditional commemoration of women officers who have died on duty during the past 12 months.   Full conference scholarships were given to  Assistant Superintendent Deemathi  Perriyaperuma  from Sri Lanka Police and Additional Superintendent Victoria Yengkhom from Manipur Police, India.  The winner of the Heritage Award for substantial and significant contributions to women Police and the IAWP was Julieann Brunzell from the USA.

Delegates were then ushered a few hundred yards (unfortunately in pouring rain, but plastic ponchos were provided to protect uniforms!) to the grounds of Cardiff Castle, where Regional photos were taken .  The delegates then marched in their country groups with their flags, behind the Police bands of South Wales Police and South Yorkshire Police together with the South Wales Mounted Branch through Cardiff city centre to the Motorpoint Arena  for the  annual IAWP Awards Luncheon. These are awarded in seven different categories with entries from all over the world.  The winners this year were:-

• Officer of The Year – Corporal Charla Keddy, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Bravery Award – Captain Vjollca Hoti, Kosovo Police
• Leadership – Assistant Commissioner Katarina Carroll, Queensland Police, Australia
• Excellence in Performance – Detective Jennifer Sattler, Holyhoke Police, USA
• Mentoring – Sgt Nancy Rudback, Halifax Regional Police, Canada
• Community Service – PC Heather O'Connor, Peel Regional Police, Canada
• Civilian Achievement – Mrs Nagina Ali, Lancashire Constabulary, UK

The UN International Female Police Peacekeeper award was presented to Commisar Raluca Domuta, Romania Police and UN Mission to Haiti.  Also, C/Supt Penny Banham, from the Metropolitan Police Service, was presented with her BAWP award for Special Recognition, as she had been unable to attend the BAWP Awards event earlier in the year.

On Monday the training part of the conference commenced – the real reason for everyone gathering in Cardiff – and over the next four days delegates were offered a wide range of sessions to attend. Nearly 90m speakers including DAC Helen Ball (Met' Police), Jackie Malton (role model for Prime Suspect), Kevin Hyland (Anti-slavery Commissioner), Jackie Roberts (retired DCC), Sophie Howe (Deputy PCC), Steve White (Chair Police Federation) presented 80 seminars on numerous topics, including Money Laundering, Road Safety, Roads Policing, Operation Yewtree,  Nutrition, Laughology, The Glass Lift, Family Liasion, Counter Terrorism, Domestic Violence, Using Social Media, Strategic Planning,  Policewomen and Misconduct and an eminent international panel discussing gender responsive policing or why women are important in policing,

Meanwhile, partners and retirees went on sightseeing trips out to Welsh Castles, Bath and down Big Pit coal mine.  All survived – despite the rain.  Especially in Bath where  they were met by a gentleman in Regency costume who took them on a walking tour of the city, including priority entry to the Baths, and ended in a vintage tea room with a lunch based on an English High Tea.

Running alongside the conference was an exhibition of 40 trade, craft and charity stands, and as all refreshment breaks were taken in that area they received much attention.  This included a silent auction of gifts donated by delegates.  Resulting in almost £2000 being raised to be split equally between the IAWP Foundation (which pays for the IAWP Scholarships) and Cardiff Women's Aid.  To commemorate the centenary of British Policewomen, an historic exhibition of uniforms and memorabilia were loaned by different Forces and individuals.  All curated by Victoria Anker from Edinburgh University.  This provoked much interest as well as photo opportunities.

Social events during the week started with a Cultural evening on Monday night at the Cardiff Millennium Centre, sponsored by the PCC for South Wales. Entertainment was provided by a local choir and some Bollywood dancers.  The latter triggered other  delegates from Germany, Nigeria and Ghana to demonstrate dances and songs from their regions!

On Tuesday night some delegates went to Cardiff Castle for one of their regular Welsh Banquet nights, where they were welcomed with a glass of Welsh mead, and serenaded by a harpist. The folk running the IAWP conference in 2017 in Cairns, Australia, had their Host Night at a local ‘Aussie’ bar complete with a surfing board and, by all accounts, a lively time was had by all.

On Wednesday it was the turn of Barcelona to hold their Host Night, ahead of their conference next year, and again a lively time was had.  With an introduction to Barcelona culture and a glass of their award winning cava.

The grand finale was a Gala Banquet with a speech by Atifete Jahjaga, (President of Kosovo and one of their first Policewomen), introduction to the new IAWP Board and the ceremonial handing over of the IAWP flag to next year's Conference Director, Montserrat Pina Martinez from Barcelona.

Overall, the event was well received by attendees with many  congratulations. This success was achieved only through the hard work and dedication of all involved in putting it together, many of whom had not experienced an IAWP conference before but still managed to grasp what was required and, to coin a phrase “stepped up to the plate”. They included members of BAWP as well as staff and officers from South Wales Police.  The Conference  could not have happened at all without the total support of their Chief Constable, Peter Vaughan,  who made many of the force’s facilities available to us, sent a number of delegates and encouraged neighbouring forces to send delegates.