The Supporting Women in Policing Conference 2025
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Overview
As of 2023, England and Wales have the highest proportion of female officers recorded since 2010, indicating that a recruitment drive has enhanced diversity within the police and is slowly fostering a more inclusive workplace culture for women.
The Casey Review reveals institutional misogyny in the Metropolitan Police Service, emphasising the need to address misogyny and improve recruitment, retention, and progression of female staff, supported by findings from Operation Hotton.
- In 2023, women made up 35% of the police officers in England & Wales (House of Commons Library, 2023)
- As of 2023, there were 42,621 women working as constables in the police (D. Clark, 2023)
- 53% of women said that the police had made not much or no progress in addressing problems of sexism and misogyny among police officers over the last year (Refuge, 2024).
Join us at The Supporting Women in Policing Conference 2025 to hear the latest on improving female representation and supporting women in the police workforce:
- High-level keynotes will deliver national updates and strategic guidance on creating a gender-responsive strategy
- Best practice case studies highlight recruiting female officers, supporting parents, advancing women of colour, and promoting male allyship in the police force
- A breakout networking session offers the opportunity to share your experiences whilst networking with other senior colleagues from a variety of sectors.
Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Professor Louise Jackson, Professor of Modern Social History, University of Edinburgh (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: National Update: Addressing the Current Landscape of Women in Policing
- Providing a contemporary overview of the current representation of women in policing
- The Casey Review: has this report effectively changed the policing culture to support women in policing?
- Sharing workplace toolkits to successfully build a representative workforce free from discrimination
- Sharing insights into the current structural and cultural challenges facing women in policing with tips to tackle these
Amanda Blakeman, Chief Constable, North Wales Police and Chair, British Association for Women in Policing (invited)
Keynote: Gender Responsive Policing Strategy: Cultivating an Environment Where All Employees Feel Valued and Treated Fairly
- Operational guidance for developing, nurturing and retaining a gender-diverse workforce
- Gaining senior leadership team buy-in for gender equality development and promotion programmes
- Tips on strengthening initiatives to support staff incorporating family responsibilities into their career
- Using a stronger gender-sensitive lens to enhance partnership working with the local community
- Setting measurable KPIs to assess progress and pinpoint areas for improvement
Simon Chesterman OBE, Chief Constable, Civil Nuclear Constabulary (invited)
Case Study: Facilitating the Recruitment and Retention of Women in the Police (invited)
- Resources for creating recruitment materials which are tailored to appeal to women considering joining the police
- Advice on assessing current joining requirements to alleviate any fears of inadequacy for women
- Ensuring steps are taken to mitigate the current widening gender pay gap in the police force
- Recommendations on how to effectively outline career progression to those women considering a career in the police
Katryna Smyth, Head of Recruitment, Police Now (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Breakout Networking: Sharing Best Practice Strategies to Support the Female Police Workforce
This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in recruiting and retaining female staff within your organisation. Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences and solutions whilst networking with peers from across the sector.
Case Study: Redressing the Failure to Recruit and Support the Progression of Women of Colour in Policing
- Women of Colour in Policing: insights into the role this initiative has played in championing women from all ethnic backgrounds in policing
- Key tips on engaging with colleagues to increase visibility and understanding of the lived experiences of women of colour
- Recruitment techniques to encourage women from diverse backgrounds to apply for the police
- Creating mentoring schemes to help women of colour develop an understanding of the policing journey
Sergeant Sandra Smith, Founder, BCH Women of Colour in Policing (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Implementing Strategies to Support Parents in the Police
- Developing peer support organisations to help those in the police who are going through the parenting journey
- Measures to ensure a smooth return to work for mothers who have recently given birth
- Tips on reducing the stigma attached to parents in the police who may be working flexible working hours
- Sharing examples of best practice for supporting those on paternity and maternity leave in the police
Claire Smart, Chief Superintendent, Metropolitan Police and Chair, MetFamilies (invited)
Case Study: Operation Hotton: Underlying the Need for Male Allyship in Policing
- Operation Hotton: contextualising the investigation and underlying why it shows more male allies are needed in the police force
- Advice on dispelling a culture which normalises misogyny and deems it as ‘banter’
- Guidance on ensuring standards and values from the very first day through extensive EDI training
- Incorporating community-facilitated discussion into training programmes on violence against women and girls
Sam Fores, Inclusion Lead, Metropolitan Police (invited)
Questions and Answers
Speakers
Aneela Khalil-Khan
DCI and Vice Secretary for SYP Race, Inclusion & Equity Association
South Yorkshire Police
Aneela is a Detective Chief Inspector at South Yorkshire Police, with over 20 years of policing experience and now leads on criminal investigations and offender management across South Yorkshire. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge that has developed over her policing career.
As the most senior minority police officer in South Yorkshire Police, she is passionate about mentoring others to reach their full potential. Aneela has supported and guided others to develop their career both inside and outside of South Yorkshire Police.
Aneela has recently obtained a Fulbright Scholarship, which saw her research the recruitment, retention and progression of Women of Colour in USA.
Anna Rickards
Detective Inspector
Greater Manchester Police
I am Detective Inspector Anna Rickards working for Greater Manchester Police (GMP). Most of my service has been spent front line in detective roles.
I am trained in Disaster Victim Identification and have conducted the role of Family Liaison Officer for 10 years supporting families affected by murder.I am currently based in the Counter Terrorism Unit. I chair the GMP Association for Women in Policing and sit on the British Association of Women in Policing committee. I am a mother of 2 young children with a serving officer husband. I have spent the vast majority of my service working part-time or with a flexible work plan.
Commander Tara McGovern
Detective Chief Superintendent & Founder of the Network of Women
London Metropolitan Police Service
Tara is a Commander in the Metropolitan Police Service and currently works in Specialist Operations leading Protective Security Operations. She transferred into the MPS on promotion to Detective Superintendent in September 2015 having spent her previous career in Hampshire Constabulary. Tara has had a number of leadership roles including Trident Gang Command, Modern Slavery, Recruitment and Career Development and Professional Standards. In 2019 Tara was diagnosed with breast cancer and during her treatment led the Change and Check campaign and BreastMates support group to raise awareness of Breast Cancer and provide support for those impacted in policing, a campaign run across the UK in over 40 police forces. In 2018 Tara set up the Network of Women, the first women’s network in the MPS for all officers and staff to provide support for progression, wellbeing and balancing home and work. Tara is the Lead of Signa, the MPS Sexual Harassment and Sexism tool, which was commended in the recent Baroness Casey review into MPS culture. In 2020 Tara was recognised by Lloyds Bank Women of the Future in its list of 50 “Kind Leaders” and has been awarded the British Association of Women in Policing Inspirational Leader Award 2021.
Janette McCormick
Strategic Police Workforce Advisor
College of Policing
Janette has been a strategic leader in policing for over 30 years across a number of forces up to the rank of Chief Constable. She has experience of operational command as well as transformational change, leading on the development of shared services across a number of forces and the merger of police and fire corporate functions at a local level. She has a strong background in equality, diversity and inclusion within policing serving on a number of national forums including leading on Disability, Gypsies and Travellers and strategic workforce data. She was a senior police advisor on workforce transformation for the College of Policing and Director of Standards. She was awarded the Queens Police Medial in 2016. In August 2019 she was appointed as Programme Director for the Police Uplift Programme to deliver the government manifesto pledge of an unprecedented growth in policing over 3 years, the successful programme resulted in the recruitment of 47k officers and a redesign of attraction, recruitment and retention processes and workforce data. Currently she is a strategic workforce advisor for National Police Chiefs Council supporting pay and conditions. She is a Non-Executive Director for the Ministry of Defence a panel member the Department of Education, Teaching Regulation Agency.
Testimonials
“I enjoyed the event – very thought-provoking. Having it online was a bonus as we can still able to attend and encourage others with busy schedules to attend as well. Thank you.”
“Enjoyed hearing about innovative projects women in policing lead and the progress we continue to make in relation to workforce representation, breaking barriers and adapting practices.”
Why You Should Attend
- Hear the latest policies and strategies for supporting women in policing
- High-level keynotes will provide national updates and guidance on creating a gender-responsive strategy
- Receive best practice examples of supporting women in policing
- Engage with case studies including recruiting female officers and supporting parents in the police force
- Network with speakers and senior colleagues from various sectors
- Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota.
GE Insights
Your conference package also includes access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more. Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.
Who Should Attend
The conference is specifically for all those responsible for, or involved in, supporting women in policing including:
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Type Examples |
| Head of Crime | Police Forces |
| Lecturer | Universities |
| Chief Superintendent | Police Councils |
| EDI Lead | Workforce Recruitment |
| Inspector | Constabularies |
| Inclusion Representative | Police Associations |
| Deputy Director | Police Colleges |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
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Benefits of partnering with us include:
- Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
- Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
- Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
- Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
- Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
- Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
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