Force guilty of 'institutional sexism', claims chief inspector

The police are guilty of institutional sexism, with women discriminated against and patronised by male colleagues, a Police Federation meeting was told yesterday.

Female officers were often passed over for promotion and given "soft" tasks, unsuitable uniforms and equipment, and inappropriate training.

Jan Berry, general secretary of the Police Federation and a chief inspector in the Kent Constabulary, told a meeting in Brighton that women were still suffering discrimination despite high-profile cases brought to tribunals in recent years.

"Just as we have institutional racism in the service so we have institutional sexism," Chief Inspector Berry said. "Some of the different treatment is deeply set. There may be no intention to treat differently but the treatment is different and it is because we are female."

She said a male-driven culture existed in police stations across the land. "When do you ever hear someone saying, 'If you need to know the time ask a policewoman'?" she asked after the meeting.

Equipment and uniforms for use by officers also tended to be designed for men, she claimed. She said that when she was made inspector she was told she would have to buy the regulation brown gloves herself because the sizes the service had were suitable only for men.

Officers who worked part-time because of other commitments, such as looking after a child, were not viewed as "proper officers", Chief Inspector Berry said. Crude and derogatory language also existed within the force. She said that most women accepted the discrimination because they wanted to be "part of the team.

"We weigh up the cost of putting our heads above the parapet and we decide that it is less painful to say nothing." When a female officer complained about harassment she was often victimised, as were those who supported them.