Our first female officer, Sergeant Margaret Hood, was sworn in with the Great Eastern Railway in May 1917.

Women began policing the railways during the First World War, when many of the male railway police officers were called up to serve on the frontline. Whilst female police officers carried out similar duties to men, they also found themselves dealing with female offenders and matters involving women and children.

The number of female officers declined after the war as the men returned, but increased again during the Second World War. In 1946 it was recognised that women carried out an important role in railway policing and the role of WPC became firmly established and championed.

Fast forward to present day, and we now have over 1,500 women employed as police officers, staff and special constables across the country.

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