History of NSW Police Force

 

Now the time has come for a little bit about women in the NSW Police Force.

In 1915 the New South Wales Police Department advertised two positions for female police. Nearly 500 women applied for the position. Two applicants, Lillian Armfield and Maude Rhodes were chosen and subsequently sworn in as Probationary Special Constables. Maude Rhodes resigned in 1920 and Lillian Armfield retired after 33 years service in 1949. The women were required to sign an indemnity releasing the Police Department of any responsibility for their safety and wore civilian clothes, as they were not issued a uniform. Their service was recorded on a separate seniority list until 1965. They were the first women employed for police duties in the Commonwealth.

By 1929 the number of women in the force increased to eight and by 1941 and as a result of wartime difficulties in recruiting men, there was a further increase in strength from eight to fourteen women police.

Over 500 women responded to advertisements for policewomen. Six women were selected: Rita Collins, Coralie Lucas, Catherine McRae, Nancy Morgan, Ita Taylor and Joan Weaver (who would later become Officer in Charge of the Women Police Office). Two Policewomen: Rita Collins and Eva Rosser transferred to Newcastle.

In 1943 Six women temporarily recruited to aid the Health Department locate people suffering from venereal disease. Then in 1945, Special Constables were introduced to regulate parking in Sydney. The Parking Police (also known firstly as "Brown Bombers" and later "Grey Ghosts" from their various uniforms) positions were originally reserved for disabled ex-servicemen.

In 1965 8 women of various ranks sworn into the New South Wales Police Force as regular officers (under the Police Regulation Women Police Amendment Act No. 64 or 1964) with full police powers, other employment conditions and entitlements. Women police given separate registered numbers to male police, establishing a separate seniority system for women police. Alice Elizabeth Hanley given the registered number 3. Women police now known as Policewoman in place of Special. This came about on the 18th March, 1965.

50 Years of women being employed in the New South Wales Police Force undertaking policing duties.

In 1971 Del Fricker and Gwen Martin accepted into the Detectives Training Course, later to become the first women detectives. Policewomen lobby the NSW Police Association for more direct representation to improve their position within the Police Force through the establishment of a Women’s Branch but are rejected. Lillian Armfield dies aged 87 years.

The following year the First female Commissioned Officer at the Women Police Office, Inspector Alice Elizabeth (Beth) Hanley, at 29 years service. Beth Hanley is awarded the ‘Most Outstanding Policewoman’.

Now days Policewomen represent 26.9% of sworn personnel. Women make up 35% of the Force. 13 policewomen are Superintendents & 2 are SES. NSW Police Force celebrates 100 years of Women in Policing and 50 years since women were officially 'sworn in' as Constables and given the full powers of a police officer.