FROM the VAULT – Mother’s Day & 50 years of Qld Police Women

Traditionally a male dominated profession, the employment of females by the Queensland Police Force did not gain momentum until after 1931 when the first two women were appointed as police officers. Although their roles were primarily care focused, their appointments paved the way for future girls wishing to join the long list of hard working men who served their state by protecting life and property.

The following timeline shows the progression of women in policing, from initial rejection by Commissioner Cahill 100 years ago, to the current position with over 25% of sworn police personnel being female. More can be read about women in policing in our pictorial “Policing Queensland 1864 – 2014”. Have you consider purchasing our book as a Mother’s Day gift? Click on this link for the ordering process: QP150 Commemorative Book

“Policing Queensland 1864-2014 150 Years”

1911	First reference to the idea of women police is made by the National Council of Women of Queensland.
1915	Police Commissioner Cahill rejects the idea of employing women following an enquiry by the Acting Home Secretary.
1931	The first two women police are appointed after Cabinet supports a submission by Irene Longman MP. They are attached to Roma Street Station in the centre of Brisbane.
1941	The Women Police Section is formed with Elizabeth Boyle as Supervisor and attached to the Criminal Investigation Branch Headquarters in George Street Brisbane.
1941-1945	The number of women in the Women Police Section increases to nine in response to the extra demands on policing.
1955	Women are permitted to join the Queensland Police Union.
1956	The Union’s application for equal pay fails in the Industrial Court.
1963	The Juvenile Aid Bureau is formed with one female and one male officer.
1965	The eight serving plainclothes women police are sworn in with equal powers and rank in March. In June the first uniformed women are sworn in following regular probationary training.
1970	The number of policewomen equals twenty-seven. Postings extend outside central Brisbane and to provincial centres.
1970	The Union achieves equal pay for women with the support of Police Commissioner Whitrod. Pre-school public relations with Constable Sandy Harding (centre of image), 1970. Image No. PM2790 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
1971	The minimum height for women joining is set at 162.5cm and the bar on married women joining up is removed.
1974	First female detective is appointed.
1975	The quota system for the recruitment of women is removed and integration is adopted in deployment. Police Commissioner Whitrod’s open door policy results in an influx of women.
1976	The number of Queensland policewomen equals 308.
1978	The recruitment of female cadets is stopped but the quota for the recruitment of female adult probationers is revived.
1986	The number of policewomen equals 258 by the middle of the year.
1987	Under Police Commissioner Lewis the advancement of women is curtailed in most areas. The number of female sworn officers drops from over 8 per cent to 5 per cent.
1987-1989	The Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption includes consideration of sex discrimination resulting in easing of restrictions for policewomen.
1990	The first five female Inspectors are appointed.
1991	The Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act reinforces merit-based criteria in employment and the number of female recruits stabilises around thirty-three per cent.
1992	The first female Chief Superintendent and Superintendent are appointed.
1992	The Queensland Equal Opportunity in Public Employment Act gives legislative support to initiatives to improve the position of women. These include flexible work options, anti-harassment strategies and mentor support.
1999	Women make up 17.36 per cent of sworn personnel. The number of female sworn officers increases steadily by approximately one per cent per year. Constable Nicky Steele in action at pistol shooting, c1999. Image No. PM2557 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
2000	Kathleen Rynders is the first policewoman to achieve the rank of Assistant Commissioner and in 2008 becomes the first woman to rise to the rank of Deputy Commissioner.
2013	Women make up more than twenty-five per cent of sworn personnel and serve in many varied roles across the state.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available, including a timeline taken from “Policing Queensland 1864 – 2014”.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT – Mother’s Day & 50 years of Qld Police Women” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

First reference to the idea of women police is made by the National Council of Women of Queensland.

Police Commissioner Cahill rejects the idea of employing women following an enquiry by the Acting Home Secretary.

The first two women police are appointed after Cabinet supports a submission by Irene Longman MP. They are attached to Roma Street Station in the centre of Brisbane.

The Women Police Section is formed with Elizabeth Boyle as Supervisor and attached to the Criminal Investigation Branch Headquarters in George Street Brisbane.

The number of women in the Women Police Section increases to nine in response to the extra demands on policing.

Women are permitted to join the Queensland Police Union.

The Union’s application for equal pay fails in the Industrial Court.

The Juvenile Aid Bureau is formed with one female and one male officer.

The eight serving plainclothes women police are sworn in with equal powers and rank in March. In June the first uniformed women are sworn in following regular probationary training.

The number of policewomen equals twenty-seven. Postings extend outside central Brisbane and to provincial centres.

The Union achieves equal pay for women with the support of Police Commissioner Whitrod.

The minimum height for women joining is set at 162.5cm and the bar on married women joining up is removed.

First female detective is appointed.

The quota system for the recruitment of women is removed and integration is adopted in deployment. Police Commissioner Whitrod’s open door policy results in an influx of women.

The number of Queensland policewomen equals 308.

The recruitment of female cadets is stopped but the quota for the recruitment of female adult probationers is revived.

The number of policewomen equals 258 by the middle of the year.

Under Police Commissioner Lewis the advancement of women is curtailed in most areas. The number of female sworn officers drops from over 8 per cent to 5 per cent.

The Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption includes consideration of sex discrimination resulting in easing of restrictions for policewomen.

The first five female Inspectors are appointed.

The Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act reinforces merit-based criteria in employment and the number of female recruits stabilises around thirty-three per cent.

The first female Chief Superintendent and Superintendent are appointed.

The Queensland Equal Opportunity in Public Employment Act gives legislative support to initiatives to improve the position of women. These include flexible work options, anti-harassment strategies and mentor support.

Women make up 17.36 per cent of sworn personnel. The number of female sworn officers increases steadily by approximately one per cent per year.

Kathleen Rynders is the first policewoman to achieve the rank of Assistant Commissioner and in 2008 becomes the first woman to rise to the rank of Deputy Commissioner.

Women make up more than twenty-five per cent of sworn personnel and serve in many varied roles across the state.

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