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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 register via the button at the top of 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.
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 benefit from some funding from the Home Office.
Our President is Chief Constable Julie Spence, from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and we have a National Co-ordinator, Liz Owsley.
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 is an associate member of the Womens' National Commission and has links with the Equal Opportunities 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 1996 and 2005 the world came to Great Britian. 2008 was in Darwin, Australia, with Seattle, USA in 2009, Minneapolis in 2010, Lexington, Kentucky in 2011 and St John's, Newfoundland in 2012.
BAWP is also linked to the European Network of Policewomen.
What We Do.....
We have:
- Attended meetings at the Home Office with Home Office Ministers, 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 several Training 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, and Gay Police Association, 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.
- 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.
