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Women police officers

The Metropolitan Police began to employ women in 1919, after a voluntary force had been set up during the First World War. At first their role was a limited one, focusing on looking after child and female suspects, and basic foot patrol. In 1973, female officers gained equal status to men and now fulfil the same role and duties.

The first female Chief Constable was Pauline Clare, who was appointed in 1996 in the Lancashire Constabulary.

Transport

19th-century police officers patrolled on foot, and in 1909 the police first used bicycles. This helped the police to travel more quickly.

Cars were first used by the police in 1919, but it was the large-scale production of cars from the 1930s that allowed police methods to develop. Police cars and motorbikes enabled officers to get to crime scenes quickly, which increased the chances of catching the criminal, gathering evidence, finding eyewitnesses, or even saving the life of a victim.

Cars are increasingly equipped with communication technology, and all police cars are equipped with cameras.

In the 1970s, the police changed methods due to cars. They reduced the number of police walking the beat and focused on rapid response teams in cars, who were called to the scenes of crimes. However, public opinion led to the reintroduction of foot, horse and bicycle patrols.

The police also now have specialist traffic officers who can usually be seen on motorways. Their cars are some of the fastest on the roads. The police also have well-equipped riot vans, designed to protect officers while dealing with riots.

Since the 1980s the police have also had helicopters. These are equipped with searchlights, infra-red cameras, heat-seeking equipment and video recorders. Helicopters allow officers in the sky to direct officers on the ground to suspects who may be hiding. They allow officers to gain a bird’s eye view of the whole scene, and they make it far harder for criminals to escape the scene of a crime.

Communication

The telegraph was developed in the late 19th century. It was first used successfully in 1910 to secure the arrest of murderer Dr Hawley Crippen, who had fled to Canada.

In 1934, two-way radios were used in cars. From the 1960s personal two-way radios were used by police on the beat. The police also had their own police telephone boxes from the 1920s and the 999 system was set up in the 1930s.