The Macpherson inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence

put the Metropolitan Police

Services treatment of ethnic minorities under the most glaring of

spotlights and found it wanting.

Among the problems cited was the lack of representation of minority

officers throughout the ranks of the service in a city where more than a quarter of residents are non-white.

It concluded that to restore the trust of black and Asian people or to

generate it in the first place the force would have to recruit more

officers who could empathise directly with their experiences.

There has been no female equivalent of Stephen Lawrence to bring the subject of policing gender to public attention, but the recruitment,

retention and promotion of women within the force is arguably as stark

a problem.

It is something the Met acknowledge in the shape of their target

of creating a force that reflects the capitals gender balance by 2010.

But while attracting women into

the force in the first place is one thing most police forces have a large crop of female PCs and DCs promotion is quite another.

A recent survey published in police newspaper The Job revealed a

damning picture of male dominance in the upper and middle echelons of the force, from the rank of sergeant upwards.

Of the 39 Met members of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), just four are female, though this ratio is reflected nationwide.

And this lack of female role models among the senior ranks could well be a factor in turning women off the force as a career, as well as discouraging others from staying.

At a recent seminar for female officers organised by the Association of Senior Women Officers (ASWO), its chair Commander Carole Howlett said: Generally, women lack confidence when it comes to putting themselves forward for promotion.

If a woman can only evidence eight out of 10 qualities needed for promotion, they will tell themselves theyre not ready. A man will invariably apply with evidence for two!

Suttons own situation is among the worst of the capitals 32 borough forces, with just three female police sergeants among its number.

Unlike many of the rest of the divisions, it has no female detective sergeants or police inspectors, let alone higher ranks.

Borough operations Chief Superintendent Paul Dowell insisted there is little Sutton can do at a local level despite the best of intentions as recruitment is a Met-wide issue.

He said: These decisions are not made locally. If we have a good string of female staff we dont decide that they should go in for promotion.

And if any of them were promoted we would not be able to say if they could stay in Sutton or move to an area with a vacancy for that rank.

On the face of it, it is not the ideal place for a young officer to start her career. But for PC Catherine Roper, who joined the borough force last March after completing the standard 18-week course at Hendon College, this couldnt be further from the truth.

She said: The fact that there are more male officers at the moment doesnt affect me. I dont find it

discouraging.

A welcoming environment and a supportive team at Wallington police station, have made her initiation into life at Sutton as smooth as she could have wished.

She added: Ive been lucky my team has been very supportive. Theres been a focus on encouraging me to experience all the different sides of policing.

There are more senior female PCs on my team. Theyve got 10 to 15 years in the job and any time I have a problem as a woman I can go to them.

According to Supt Dowell: My view is that its about atmosphere. The

atmosphere that were determined

to maintain here is one of equal

opportunities.

Intelligent and articulate, PC Roper, who lives in Putney, is one of the women police chiefs intend to be a role model for the future, reach the highest ranks and encourage others to follow in her footsteps.

She has been accepted onto a Home Office accelerated

promotion scheme for graduates she has a degree in law and politics which should

facilitate a smooth and rapid progress up the force when her two-year probation period comes to an end next March.

For instance, she should be able to take her sergeants exam at the first available

opportunity.

Refreshingly, it was one of PC Ropers male tutors at

Hendon who encouraged her to apply for the scheme, which involved getting through a gruelling series of assessments and interviews.

And she is clear it is an achievement that confers

responsibilities as well as

opportunities.

If I can do it then I hope that can make other people

realise that they can too. If anyone was thinking of going for it

I would be happy to encourage them to do so.

According to Supt Dowell: Catherine has done exceptionally well to get on the scheme. We are delighted for her. It will be people like Catherine who can encourage other officers to go for the scheme in future.

She was unique among her university friends and peers in applying to join the force, but said: I wanted to use my law proactively. Every aspect of the job Ive found interesting,

enjoyable and challenging.

And she is confident enough in the Mets commitment to equal opportunities to see a bright future for herself in the force.

She said: The Met is trying to redress the balance. When I came out of Hendon I got a leaflet telling me about all the opportunities open to me, which my male colleagues did not.

And despite the limitations of a borough-based approach to redressing the gender balance, Suttons chiefs are endeavouring to fill a current

inspectors vacancy with a woman.

According to Supt Dowell: We have asked for a female officer but we have to wait for personnels decision.

Commander Howletts advice to women is simple: Dont underestimate the impact you can have on the service. Be bold, go for it. You are more than able to compete.

She pledged the ASWOs full support to any woman whose ambition it is to rise through the force and added: The more women try to rise within the service, the better the organisation will be.

By.Mithran Samuel