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Patron: Former Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, DBE, QPM
President: Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball QPM
Honorary Patron: Lynda La Plante, CBE
“100 years strong: Celebrating the past, present and looking to the future"
It was 100 years ago on 22 November 1918, that the then Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Cecil Macready officially announced that we’d have female police officers – known as the Women Patrols. This followed the then Home Secretary accepting Sir Cecil's "experimental" proposal to form a department of women police officers, under the supervision of Superintendent Sofia Stanley. They were seen in London for the first time in February 1919. Now over 100 years later, women are employed in all sections of the Metropolitan Police.
To celebrate, a limited edition of 2019 prints (as above) by Mick Ewins A.S.A.I artist of Blue Lamp prints showing the progress through those years of women in the Met was commissioned.
It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a legend telling history of that progress.
Cost of print is £40 each plus P&P - UK only (total £45). The print measures 50mm x 38mm.
To order your copy, email print100@metwpa.org.uk.
Overseas purchasers - please contact first in order that postage costs can be given.
Two things were instrumental to the grudging acceptance of Women Police in the second decade of the 20th Century: Concern over the slave traffic and the advent of the First World War. The strength of Police forces fell rapidly as men of all ranks left to join the Colours. Everywhere problems of order and decency in public places cried out for an urgent solution.
New members are always welcome, joining is easy simply complete the Membership Request Form and pay an annual sub. Membership is also available to women officers of the Special Constabulary.
A membership fee is payable of £10 per annum.
If you would like to get in touch to find out more about our Association, please do not hesitate to send us an email. You can find our details below.
The Metropolitan Women Police Association was formed in 1976 by a group of women officers after integration was introduced in March 1973 and the specialist women police department was disbanded. The Association was originally formed to provide a means of helping each other to meet and keep in touch with one another. We are purely a SOCIAL Association. All serving or former women police, including those who later transferred to other forces or served in the Special Constabulary, are eligible TO JOIN at any time.
Our members live all over the country and also abroad. We keep in contact with members via a newsletter three times a year. This contains details of social and special events, outings and get-togethers at the Met Police Sports Clubs. Our age range is from 100 to 25. We welcome new members and new input in order to keep the Association alive and interesting.
We are undertaking the task of transferring historical information on Women Police to a digital format. Increasingly we are approached by organisations interested in our history, and some of our members have given interviews or have written books about their experiences. We endeavour to attend memorials to remember officers who have lost their lives on duty.
Events take place throughout the year. We have a Christmas lunch usually in Central London and an AGM in April, followed by lunch. Some members arrange their own informal lunches locally, making new friends in the process. Other members just like to belong to the MWPA and read the newsletters.
In 2019 we celebrated 100 years of women police in London. We are a friendly, caring association and we believe we have alot to offer. PLEASE NOTE: Serving Officers wanting advice, mentoring etc, should contact other associations e.g. British Association of Women Police Officers, which deal mainly with problems affecting serving officers. If you are interested in joining or require more information, we can be contacted via this link here or email membership@metwpa.org.uk
We receive many requests for information from outside agencies, especially after our centenary. In order to support the work of the MWPA, we would ask these agencies to consider making a donation. This can be done by BACS payment to sort code 09-01-54, quoting account number 12343908 or by contacting us via email at info@metwpa.org.uk. Thank you.
