"Can the Met be an effective 21st century public service if it does not exploit to the full the talents of its female staff - no!"

95/02
18 September 2002

This is the message Toby Harris, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority will take to ‘Gender Agenda: Empowering Women in the Metropolitan Police Service’ on Thursday 19 September, a one-day conference aimed at enabling women currently employed within the Met to reach their full potential and encourage more women to view the service as a career option. 

Family-friendly working practices, work-life balance issues and professional development within the police service are also important features of the day. 

Toby Harris said:

“The Met and the Metropolitan Police Authority are being honest when we say that, as an organisation, there is a long way to go to achieve anything near parity and equality with regards to gender issues. But today indicates a real commitment to make changes and work towards the gender agenda. 

“The Met, in partnership with the MPA, intends to achieve inclusiveness, fundamentally an equal chance, for every woman within the Met. And let me state clearly this is not about tokenism, it’s about the full involvement and utilisation of all the diverse talents and experiences women already contribute to society and can bring with them into a career in the Met. 

“From an historically entrenched position the Met now fully recognises that it has to have the full involvement of women and that the contribution women make is essential to the effective discharge of its enormously complex functions. A majority of managers within the service now recognise this. I know that today’s conference has already been a talking point within the Met, a positive one I should add, engaging many male officers and managers in direct discussion.

“The MPA has, since it’s inception in July 2000, played a significant role in pushing forward the gender agenda. Our Human Resources Committee regularly scrutinises the relevant indicators on the representation of women - not just overall recruitment figures but also representation of women at senior ranks and within the specialisms. We have largely banished, I believe, the type of pigeonholing that previously saw women given the soft-option, cuddly jobs. And we intend to constantly monitor the position to ensure that remains the case.

“Importantly too the Human Resources Committee has also taken the lead in examining the Met’s policies in respect of family-friendly arrangements and continues to press for a much more flexible and imaginative regime. We will use every opportunity to introduce some radical shifts in the admittedly still rigid and male orientated work patterns which have made it difficult for so many women to balance the demands of work, career progression and family commitments. One dimensional, work obsessed individuals – of either sex – are just not gong to be able to take forward policing in the sensitive and community aware context that is essential in today’s much more demanding and pluralist society. Advancing work-life balance considerations in any ‘traditional’ organisation is difficult, but the MPA is adamant that this is a priority. 

“Diversity, valuing the different experiences, cultures and viewpoints of each and every member of society should never be underestimated – it is the only conceivable way forward. The whole of the MPA will continue to champion inclusiveness within the Metropolitan Police. We know that the Met cannot function without the full and enthusiastic commitment of female staff and officers at all levels and ranks. I hope today will identify any sticking points that are making women’s full contribution less effective than it might be, and offers constructive, workable suggestions to advance the cause. 

“If there is anything that emerges today standing in the way of enabling anyone here, or indeed intending to apply to join the Met in the future, from achieving her full potential, we want to know and will work towards eliminating it. It is up to each and every one of us to turn aspirations into reality.” 

Notes to editors

The ‘Gender Agenda: Empowering Women in the Metropolitan Police Service’ takes place on Thursday 19 September at the Novotel (Hammersmith), 1 Shortlands, London, W6 8DR.

Media wishing to attend the Gender Agenda should confirm their attendance with New Scotland Yard: Mark Ottowell on 7230 3301 or Suzanne Colmer on 020-7230 0766 – out of office hours please call the 24 hour press bureau on 020 7230 2171.

Photo opportunity

Introductory speeches will begin at 10:30am. There will be a photo opportunity afterwards, when Toby Harris, the Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair and the Mayor of London sign up to the Gender Agenda.

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