British Association for Women in Policing

Passionately working towards gender equality, the British Association of Women in Policing (BAWP) is the national organisation embracing policewomen of all ranks and grades.

Support we provide

We support current and retired officers, as well as potential recruits, working with the police service and other police associations to offer:

Mentoring and networking opportunities
Professional development courses such as the Management & Leadership Development course, which has been accepted by the College of Policing and incorporated into mainstream courses
Pastoral care and support for women officers

Below are (from left to right) our Treasurer, President and Vice-President of BAWP, attending our 2021 Conference.

Questions you might have

It's natural to have questions if you're thinking about becoming a police officer. BAWP is here to support the diverse roles that women play in our police service across the UK. Take a look through our FAQs below.

What safety training will I receive?

Keeping our officers safe is really important. That’s why you’ll receive extensive personal safety training, giving you the skills you need to quickly assess situations and react appropriately and safely. Find out more about personal safety training.

Will there be flexibility with shift patterns?

Working shifts is one of the realities of policing. There will likely be times when you’re needed for evening and weekend shifts. But if you’re responsible for caring for someone and a particular shift might be tricky, you can speak to your force about alternative shift options.

How hard is the fitness test?

The fitness test is designed to ensure you have the basic level of fitness needed to do your job. As long as you train in advance, you should be able to pass it. Why not check out these top tips on preparing for the fitness test?

Is there a uniform specifically designed for female officers?

Yes. It’s important to have a uniform that fits properly. That’s why the police service have specialist fitted uniforms for female officers.

What support is available if I experience discrimination?

The police service is does not accept any form of discrimination and is committed to supporting all its officers. There are robust processes in place to ensure all officers are protected and if any female officer is experiencing discrimination, get in touch with us – we’re here to help.

Inspiring women to join the police

Hear from Chief Superintendent Lisa Hogan and Student Officer Georgina Giffney speaking about their experiences of being in the police and encouraging other women to join.

View the full video transcript

Chief Superintendent, Lisa Hogan

What motivated me to apply to be a police officer is the difference that you can make in communities and when people are most at need or when they need help, that I can be somebody who makes a difference.

My name’s Lisa Hogan, I’m a chief superintendent in Cumbria Constabulary, and I have policing responsibility for Cumberland Command.
The preconceptions that I had about joining the service as a woman was: would I be the only woman who was joining the team?

It’s been fantastic for me to have a senior woman in policing – so that role model figure who understands the challenges women have in the service, particularly around the home-life balance and making the difference so that it’s flexible, where you need that flexibility, but also for caring responsibilities.

There’s lots of opportunities for progression in the service, as long as you can demonstrate that you can do the role and you’re ready to progress.
Well, in terms of my career journey, I’ve been very well supported. Having senior women in policing absolutely makes a difference in terms of my progression through the ranks. It’s made a huge difference to me because they are those role models, those people who I aspire to be like.

My family and friends are very proud that I’m a police officer and particularly who I’ve been successful as a woman in policing.

Christian, Lisa Son

I’m really proud of her being a police officer because she has accomplished loads and she’s seen as being really helpful in the police force and encouraging women to join.

Georgina Giffney, Student Officer

So in my current role here as student police officer, a typical day for me would start by coming into the LDC (Learning and Development Centre) at Penrith, meeting with my peers and doing a self-study session.

I enjoy the sense of belonging within working in policing, so everybody feels as though that they are part of your family. Everyone takes care of each other, and everyone listens to you.

It did worry me as to how people would perceive me being in the police, as to whether or not I was strong enough to be here, whether or not I had a place to be here. Now I am here I do feel confident in what I’m doing, and that’s solidified by the learning that I am doing every day and retaining that knowledge and putting that into practice.

To any women out there that wish to join the police force, I would put forward that you should be the change that you want to see in the world. That’s something that resonated with me because I do believe that each woman is her own role model. So if you believe enough in yourself that you can be a police officer, it means that naturally that behaviour and that attitude will improve and be positive and you will be able to do it.

Chief Superintendent Lisa Hogan

What I would say to women who are wishing to join the police service or thinking about it; do it now. There’s never a better time to join policing. We have lots of people here to support you, to guide you.