Police review treatment of women

The Metropolitan Police Authority's Equal Opportunities & Diversity Board (EODB) is to examine the treatment of the police service's female employees and users.

Representatives from women's groups across London will be invited to an informal discussion on gender issues, current policies and areas of concern.

"An organisation's employees are its most valuable resource and they need to be treated with respect and fairness, including equality of rights and opportunity, irrespective of gender," said EODB chair Kirsten Hearn, adding that the Metropolitan Police is now aware that it must address inadequacies in the treatment of its women employees.

However, she claimed that progress has already been made with a number of positive policies and practices, including a specific female personal development and leadership programme, a female police staff mentoring programme and a childcare co-ordinator.