20 years QualityThrough Equality enp |europea n networ kofpolicewomen enp european network of policewomen 2 | enp.nl 20year sQualit yThroug hEquality Foreword The European Network of Policewomen has been promoting diversity and professionalism in the police for the past twenty years. In every national police force, greater diversity means better quality, so this international network is vital. Exchanging views and approaches helps to foster creativity and prevent tunnel vision. The police are part of a pluralist society. In order to remain engaged with the community they serve, they must invest in diversity. Despite all that has been achieved on gender mainstreaming in the past few decades, the position of women is still an issue that requires attention. Thanks to opportunities for part-time employment, job-sharing and access to child care, the proportion of women in police organisations throughout Europe has increased. Yet the number of women in management positions remains small due to lack of upward mobility. Many women still find it difficult to profile their talents and to recognise and create opportunities for themselves. The ENP is trying to address this problem and is helping women get past this stumbling block. Its efforts include Career Development Seminars for policewomen aspiring to positions in middle management. Participants are taught leadership and networking skills, and given tools for sharing knowledge and making the most of opportunities. This magazine tells you what ENP has been doing over the past twenty years and what it is planning for the future. We hope that you will find it inspirational. Diversity is the future. Guusje ter Horst Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations from 22.02.2007 till 23.02.2010 3 | enp.nl Dear members of the European Network of Policewomen, enp We have come a long way since 1954, when women first took to the streets of Amsterdam as serving european network police officers. Before then, they mainly had administrative duties. Only in 1971 the first policewoman was granted of policewomen admission to the Dutch Police Academy and it took till 1994 for the Equal Opportunities Act to come into force. Today, more than a third of our organisation consists of policewomen, a percentage also reflected among middle management ranks. Several of our department’s most senior officers are female too. Last year we appointed the first woman borough commander. I am very proud of this accomplishment. Diversity within our police organisation stimulates fresh and innovative viewpoints. It has already led to new strategies in tackling existing problems, original ways of organising operations and will hopefully help prevent tunnel vision. There is still work to be done though. We need to be vigilant regarding opportunities for further growth and development of policewomen in our organisation. In my role as Chief of Police - both in Amsterdam and in my former function in Groningen - I have always purposefully appointed women as members of my Board. I believe that promoting women to top positions creates a driving force, a catalyser if you will, to further stimulate an already positive development. In a globalised world, where neither crime nor careers are bordered, international collaboration is key in achieving equal opportunities for all. By sharing experiences and best practices we all benefit: men and women alike. I therefore applaud the efforts of both the Amsterdam women network NetWeb and the European Network of Policewomen and congratulate you on your twenty year anniversary. Yours sincerely, Bernard Welten Chief of Police - Amsterdam-Amstelland 4 | enp.nl 20year sQualit yThroug hEquality Content Foreword 3 Dear members of the European Network of Policewomen 4 The importance of networking 6 Editorial 8 Leading Indicators & strategy ENP 10 Executive & General board 13 From a tiny ENP - Seed to a beautiful international tree 14 From brawn to brain - From hired hands to hired heads? 16 Police... 20 A man among woman 24 That’s it! 26 History of Austrian policewomen 28 Two way process for achieving positive change 30 ENP as Booster & Enhancing Professionalism 32 Did you know that... 36 Supporting members 38 5 | enp.nl The importance of networking by Jane Townsley - President IAWP enp I am pleased to be writing in this special edition of the ENP I have 24 years experience as a police officer, and european network magazine and I congratulate the ENP on its 20th am delighted and honoured to be IAWP president of policewomen anniversary. As recently elected president of the particularly as I am the first person from Europe to hold International Association of Women Police (IAWP) I am well this position; all previous presidents have been from aware of the importance of networking in raising North America. the profile of women in policing, and the ENP has My priorities over the next three years will be to further achieved much in the past 20 years and I know that many promote the work of the IAWP. It is a fantastic, fast- challenges are still to be faced in support of women. growing organisation which recognises the unique and invaluable skills women bring to law enforcement. We bring together officers of all ranks and from all corners of the globe to share experiences and learn from one another. We have a lot of important work ahead of The IAWP has members in 58 countries throughout us in ensuring our members are represented and receive the world and its aim is to strengthen, unite and raise training, mentoring and networking opportunities. the profile of women working in the criminal justice Many of the countries engaged with the IAWP are system. The organisation is committed to further fortunate that women can expect equal treatment, but Jane Townsley enhancing its members’ skills through professional that is not the case everywhere in the world, including invaluable qualities women bring to law enforcement, development, training, recognition, mentoring, parts of Europe. Over the next three years, my priority will wherever they may be, are valued and respected so that networking and peer support, very similar to be to promote women in policing and to ensure the women can succeed to the highest levels.” those of ENP. 6 | enp.nl 20year sQualit yThroug hEquality Get Acquainted: Marta Fernández Barea Over the past few years the ENP and IAWP have worked Name: Marta Fernández Barea more closely together than ever before, supporting each Country: Spain - Catalunya other’s aims to mutual advantage. I am determined to Organisation: Corps Mossos d'Esquadra build on the relationship we have, with the globalisation Rank: Deputy Inspector we have witnessed over the last few years, international Present function: Head Central Missing Persons Unit in the Criminal Investigations Division. She also participates in the gender equality co-operation is even more important. project of the Corps of the Mossos d’Esquadra (CME). ENP Function: Vice President - Executive Board Member One of the benefits of networking is to provide Private: Married and having two sons mutual support to achieve common aims and objectives, success is far easier to achieve when people work Career: together rather than in isolation, this is equally She joined the organisation in 1991 and either as head or deputy head, she worked in the police stations of Sant Feliu de Guixols, Sant Celoni and in the important for organisations such as ENP and IAWP, Urban Transport in Barcelona. strength in numbers. Jobs motivation: Her main motivation always has been assisting people, helping with the general welfare of the community and solving problems, which unfortunately On behalf of the International Association Board of can often be serious of nature. Directors I wish to send best wishes to all those who Her view on ENP: have been involved in the European Network of Police - The ENP raises awareness that the representation of women on decision making (senior management), basic and operating levels is beneficial for women over the past 20 years and look forward to the police organisations as it contributes to more dynamism. Different studies showed that organisations with a diverse (balanced) gender composition your achievements over the next 20 years. are better prepared to adapt themselves to social changes, and police organisations operate in an atmosphere of constant changes. If police services want to keep pace with those developments, they need to transform Besides women at senior level also have the function of role models. Jane Townsley The ENP surely stimulated her organisation by deepen the understanding on this important issue. Hereby a focus was made to selection, recruitment President IAWP and retention of women addressing to career development either vertical or horizontal and decision making level. Her organisation closely collaborate with the ENP and various activities were organised in Barcelona e.g. career development seminar, management course, knowledge For further information about the IAWP please visit the exchange projects etc. website www.iawp.org Her tip: “For both women already working within our organisation and newcomers; work with enthusiasm and be open-minded. Confident and decisive women are needed capable to develop their careers either horizontally or vertically as only then the dual objective of further enhancing the results of the organisation and achievement of gender equality can be realised”. 7 | enp.nl Editorial by Anita Wieman - Hesterman – Policy Advisor ENP enp Indeed 2009 is a memorable and magic year for Remains the question why this initiative is so Anita Wieman-Hesterman european network the ENP (European Network of Policewomen). valuable and important: In most EU-countries women - Policy Advisor LECD - of policewomen As twenty years ago, during the international conference could enter into police executive functions after the Portfolio International held in Noordwijkerhout/Netherlands, some Dutch second world war. In the Netherlands for example the Cooperation policewomen took the initiative to set-up a network first uniformed policewomen were appointed in 1953.