The Provincial Lead. Well. London is not the criterion by which we should judge. The London police are condemned to wear ugly, basin like hats, clumsy black tunics and skirts and boots which bear out the music-hall jokes about a policeman’s boots. Just contrast this with certain provincial towns especially in the midlands, where women police have met with unprecedented success and you will find that the uniform of the provincial policewoman is most becoming. She wears a pretty peaked cap, after the naval type, her uniform is quite attractive and she is permitted to wear black silk stockings and dainty shoes. In fact, she by far more likely to win confidences of the class of women which perforce she has to deal than her London prototype. It was Sir Leonard Dunning H.M. Inspector of Constabulary who said “Policewomen are building an influence which may shape the future of many a girl who has no one else to lean on.” The policewomen of the provinces is certainly the type that should be fostered for this class of delinquent. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 7841)
Women police 1938. Back row: Miss Millichip, Miss Gould, Police Sergeant Midwinter, Miss Rouse, Miss Bennett, Front row: Miss Lodge, Miss Sandover, Miss Ford, Miss Spooner, Miss Tonra. (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 136)
One Police Constable, one Woman Police Constable and three Woman Auxiliary Police Constables at rear of Cheltenham Police Station Crescent Terrace. Left to right: Woman Auxiliary Police Constable Dorothy HALE (now GARDNER), Police Constable John ANGUS, Woman Auxiliary Police Constable Joyce PAYTON (now MOORE), Woman Police Constable Laura BALL (now CLARKE), Woman Auxiliary Police Constable Doreen WEBB (now SINCLAIR). (Gloucestershire Police Archives URN 1198)
In 1922 because of the cost cutting measures imposed by the government many of the Gloucestershire Policewomen were given notice.
In 1927 more women joined Gloucestershire police but there were still only 7 of them. This number didn’t change much until the 1960s.
This page was added on 05/03/2018.
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