Welcome

BAWP is the only national organisation to embrace women of all ranks and grades within the Police Service. Our mission is to ensure that those women are heard.

Please note that most of this site is open to everyone. If you are a member and require access to the Members' Area, please enter via the button at the bottom of the left hand panel on any page.

This is the website for the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP for short). The Association was founded in 1987, and is the only organisation in the UK to draw members from all ranks and grades of the police service, both male and female, and associated organisations. We have representatives not only from most of the 'geographical' forces throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but also from many others - including British Transport Police, Guernsey Police, Isle of Man Constabulary, Ministry of Defence Police, and RAF Police. Our Corporate membership extends to every geographical and national police force in the British Isles, together with RAF Police, APA, Police Authorities, police staff associations, commercial and academic organisations.

About Us.....

The BAWP is run on a voluntary basis by an Executive Committee consisting of serving and former police officers and staff from across the United Kingdom. We are partly self-funded, and also have, in the past, benefitted from some funding from the Home Office.

Our President is Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, from the Metropolitan Police Service, and we have a National Co-ordinator, Parwinder Dale.

BAWP was formed in 1987 to fill a gap within the Police Service, with its main objectives to enhance the role and understanding of the specific needs of the women who are employed therein.

Nationally, the BAWP was an associate member of the Womens' National Commission until it was disbanded in December 2010, and has links with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
BAWP is frequently asked to comment on topical issues and has contributed to a wide range of publications including national newspapers and magazines as well as police literature.

Internationally, the BAWP is affiliated to the International Association of Women Police (IAWP), which is represented at the United Nations.
IAWP conferences are held annually in various parts of the world. In 1996 and 2005 the world came to Great Britain. 2008 was in Darwin, Australia, with Seattle, USA in 2009, Minneapolis in 2010, Lexington, Kentucky in 2011, St John's, Newfoundland in 2012 and South Africa in 2013.

BAWP is also linked to the European Network of Policewomen.

What We Do.....

We have:

Actively participated in meetings at the Home Office with Home Office Ministers and their staff, and had them as speakers at our own events.
Played an active part in developing 'The Gender Agenda' from its initial launch on August 21 2001 to its relaunch as 'Gender Agenda 2' in October 2006. It is a living document which has been embraced by the Home Office.
Piloted a specially-designed Management and Leadership Development Course for women officers - later absorbed into main-stream courses by Centrex (now NPIA) at Bramshill.
Organised twice yearly Professional Development Days on topics as diverse as: Body Armour for Women Police, Building Alternative Working Practices, and Violence against Women.
Established good working relationships with HMIC, Police Federation of England & Wales, Police Superintendents' Associations, National Black Police Association, Gay Police Association, National Disabled Police Association, National Transgender Police Association and National Association of Muslim Police, in order to work together on issues of mutual concern

We also produce a quality magazine 'Grapevine' for the benefit of members and others, and we normally run two Professional Development Days a year - more details of which can be found on the 'Conferences and Events' page.

Our Aims.....

To raise the awareness and understanding of issues affecting women within the Police Service.
To facilitate and contribute to discussions on issues of concern to all officers - providing wherever possible the female perspective.
To develop a network of professional and social contacts between officers nationally and internationally.
To facilitate the sharing of information on issues affecting the Service, and women in particular.
To contribute to the continuous professional development of all members.

Join Us.