International Women’s Day: A view from the chair
8 March 2022
Life for police officers has changed beyond recognition over the last two decades but it is still the best job in the world, according to West Mercia Police Federation chair Sarah Cooper.
Speaking on International Women’s Day, Sarah said she and female colleagues had put up with unacceptable behaviour in the past but now had more confidence to speak out with the knowledge their voices would be more likely to be heard.
And attitudes within policing today differ greatly from those when Sarah joined the police service in 1996 after a conversation with her Army officer father.
She said: “It was actually my dad who suggested I try the police.
“I wanted to join the Army, but I wanted to join the ranks and work my way up whereas my Dad, who was an officer, thought I should go to Sandhurst.
“I was too stubborn to take the advice and the police was a compromise!”
Sarah said her ultimate aspiration when she did decide to follow the path of a career in policing was to help people.
“I realise that sounds a little cheesy but nothing has changed,” she said.
“To be able to make a difference to people when they need it is hugely fulfilling to me and that’s why I love the job I do now so much.”
Sarah said policing today was unrecognisable from when she joined the service a quarter of a century ago.
She explained: “Regarding women specifically, I think that there was more respect from the public when I joined. As a female you could often talk your way out of confrontation. I’m not sure that’s the case now - if you have a uniform on then you are fair game.
“Internally I would like to think things have improved. In my early days I experienced some stuff that I think would be considered quite shocking now - comments and behaviours that were clearly unacceptable but you just put up and shut up.
“I think people have more confidence to speak out now and that’s why it’s so important that they are supported when they do.”
Some of Sarah’s worst experiences came during her early years in the Police Federation which she found at the time was treated like a boys’ club where the few women that came and went were actively excluded.
She said: “It was very apparent that I was not welcome and that my opinion or ideas did not matter.
“The way I was treated when I stood for election was atrocious but I don’t regret a second of it.
“We now have a situation where two out of our three full-time branch officials are women and we have a far greater representation across our work-based reps.”
Sarah said ensuring all officers were treated fairly and equally was often more complicated than a simple male-female issue.
“My personal experience across policing as a whole is far more about whether your face fits than whether you are male or female,” she said.
“That said, I have suffered discriminatory treatment during pregnancy and when working reduced hours. Interestingly the worst of that treatment was from another female so I think we have to be very careful about always making this a male-female issue.
“I have represented females who have been treated appallingly and suffered terribly in the workplace simply because they are women and we undoubtedly have a way to go with this.
“It needs to be more than headlines and Gucci videos though - there needs to be proper recognition and support for those that speak out and a consistent and robust approach to dealing with issues when they are highlighted.”
Sarah’s message to women considering joining the police service is a positive one.
She said: “Policing is the best job in the world. We are so privileged to be in a position to make a real difference at the worst times of people’s lives and to serve the public.
“I am incredibly proud of some of the work I have done, particularly in my roles as a Domestic Abuse Specialist and Family Liaison Officer.
“I have received letters from victims and relatives stating that they believe that I have saved their life.
“For me, there is nothing better than to have contributed to someone making a new start and to know you will always have played a part in that.”
She acknowledged that policing was going through a tough time but said the Police Federation was striving to make things better for its members.
“I know from my interaction with members that there is an awful lot that is not good in policing at the moment,” she said.
“Being part of the Police Federation gives you a real opportunity to influence positive change and I would encourage anyone who is interested in making things better for colleagues to get in touch.
“My Federation work has probably been the most rewarding of my career.”
