Gender equity in policing in the British Isles: Strategies, achievements and accountability

Over the past decade, police services in the British Isles have consistently reported high numbers of sworn female officers. To explore factors behind this success, this study provides a critical review of publicly accessible official data and reports related to the progress of female police in the British Isles. The review encompasses a 10-year period, spanning 2014 to 2023. For 2023, the representation of women in policing in Northern Ireland was 31.9%, 28.4% in the Republic of Ireland, 34.3% in Scotland and 34.7% in England and Wales. Across the study period there was a consistent upward trend in female police numbers, women moved in large numbers into specialist areas, and they were increasingly represented at middle and senior management levels. The secondary literature indicated that a variety of factors might have been influential in achieving the relatively high proportion of females within the ranks of police services in the British Isles. These included numerical targets, mentoring, flexible employment and other support strategies. Our analysis revealed that quantitative data on male/female applications and outcomes were largely unavailable for recruitment, promotions and wellbeing. Further, data on deployment, discrimination and sexual harassment were also scarce. Based on this study, it was concluded that official sources on gender equity strategies remain vague, leaving considerable uncertainty about how the British Isles has achieved its success. Greater transparency about ‘what works’ in gender equity approaches, strategies and programmes is needed. This is essential to build an evidence informed body of knowledge and best practice, with lessons for police agencies across the world who strive to achieve similar gender equity outcomes.