Yard finds gentle touch too soft

Press, 21 May 1982, Page 6

Yard finds gentle touch too soft

NZPA London Scotland Yard chiefs are becoming concerned about the high number of women in the police force, the “Standard” newspaper has reported. The paper said that many senior officers disliked the idea of women officers being exposed to violence of any sort — from a pub brawl tb a riot in Brixton. Now at the top level it has been decided that “the gentle touch" had become too heavy and the intake of women into the force should be quietly and delicately reduced. Figures show' that although the percentage of women to men joining the force in the last few years had been steadily rising, in the last few’ months it had fallen dramatically, said the “Standard.” In 1978, 20.2 per cent of all

recruits accepted by the Yard were women. By 1980 the figure was 22.7 per cent. But so far this year, out of 1059 recruits, only 141 have been women - just 13.3 per cent. “The reason is that word has been passed to senior officers sitting on recruiting boards that the intake of women applicants must be cut.” said the paper. One officer said: “Nothing specific has been mentioned and it is all unofficial — but the w’ord has gone out.” Scotland Yard explains the apparent discrepancy between the 20 per cent recruitment level in the past and the less than 10 per cent actual strength level as “natural wastage.” “A lot of the girls soon after they’ve joined leave to get married or something," one officer said.