Female Afghan Police Officers

From Bloomberg:

The U.S. is helping recruit and train thousands of women for Afghanistan’s police and army, even as officials seek a peace agreement that might return some power to their former tormentors, the Taliban.

Some 1,200 women serve in Afghanistan’s national police and 320 in the army. More than 50 have graduated from the military’s officer candidate school and another course is under way. Four female second lieutenants from the army arrived in the U.S. last month to train as helicopter pilots.

This increasing return of women into Afghanistan’s leadership and security forces is at risk as the Obama administration steps up its drive for a peace agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban to speed the U.S. military exit.

Patricia Longinette

From St Louis Today:

Before Patricia Longinette joined in 1951, the St. Louis Police Department was a man's world.

The department had been hiring "policewomen" since 1916. But they weren't allowed to carry a gun or badge or make arrests.

Mrs. Longinette — then Patricia Murphy — and six other women who graduated from the Police Academy with her became the first female officers with the same authority as men.

Patricia Longinette died Tuesday (Aug. 2, 2011) at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur after a respiratory illness. She was 81 and had lived in Bridgeton.

She was one of the first female officers assigned to the traffic and vice divisions.

The old Globe-Democrat ran a feature story on Mrs. Longinette under the headline: "She carries a gun, but she's just another working girl." One photo showed her vacuuming the rug in her home.

She married a police officer and retired from the department in 1959 after having three children. She later had a fourth child, was divorced and took up teaching. She retired from the old All Souls Catholic School in Overland in 1993 and kept in touch with the surviving members of that first class of women.

Christine Nixon by Stephen Linnell

From Herald Sun:

Somewhat controversially, from the start of her tenure Christine set an ambitious program to substantially increase the ratio of female Victoria Police officers.

When she arrived, just 15 per cent of officers were female. This had increased to about 23 per cent in 2007 - still significantly short of the national average of 31 per cent.

Read the eye-opening extract from Stephen's book in today's Herald Sun.

Fight to Save Sakineh

From Associated Press:

About 300 people from rights organizations have demonstrated in Paris to urge Iran to lift its death sentence on an Iranian woman convicted of adultery.

The protesters carried banners reading "Let's Save Sakineh," in honor of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two who has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.

After international protests, Iran lifted the stoning sentence last month, but she could still face execution by hanging.

Iran-born women's rights activist Anna Pak told Saturday's Paris crowd that Iran must "stop killing men and women" after alleged forced confessions.

Sihem Habchi, of a noted French group representing downtrodden minority women, said Ashtiani symbolizes the "right to be a woman."

Record Number of Detainees At Muskogee

From Muskogee Phoenix:

Oklahoma incarcerates almost twice as many women as any other state.

Before those women reach Department of Corrections prisons, they must stay in local jails. A recent rise in female inmate population has created concerns inside the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility.

“We’ve never had this many female inmates in the history of this jail,” said Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson.

The number of women inmates may sound relatively small — a daily average of 45 in a jail set up for a maximum total population of 282 and which can hold up to 330. The daily average from April 2009 to January 2010 was 20.

India: More Female Police Needed

From the Hindustan Times:

Since the day Kiran Bedi was selected as the first woman IPS officer, the Delhi Police have come a long way. However, the elite force is yet to fulfil the expected 15 per cent quota meant for women personnel.

That’s not all: No woman holds the rank of additional commissioner of police or above, i.e. joint commissioner of police, special commissioner of police and of course, the commissioner of police.

These revelations were part of the reply given by the Delhi Police to the RTI query of an activist, Subhash Agrawal.

He had asked the Delhi Police if there was any directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) about the percentage strength of women in Delhi Police, the current statistical data of the force and steps taken to bridge the gap.

The numbers, according to the RTI query reply, are: There are just three women out of 33 at DCP level (10 per cent); none among 49 at Additional DCP rank and just 32 out of 243 (16 per cent) at ACP level.

The women inspectors comprise just 6.16 per cent (79 out of 1282). There are even lesser in number at sub-inspector rank: just 168 out of 4047 (4.15 per cent).

However, the lowest proportion emerged at the head constable level, where women police personnel are just 3.80 per cent (642 of 16,875). Class IV does have a little more than 18 per cent strength of the total, the RTI informs.

The number of women personnel in the force remains low despite the advisory issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Delhi Police to raise the strength of women to 15 per cent of the total manpower.

Honouring Women Who Broke Police Gender Barrier

From Officer.com - Law Enforcement News:

Toting guns in their purses, wearing skirts and heels, the first female deputies started patrol work at the Sheriff's Department in 1972.

On Monday, deputies lined up at Altadena Community Center to salute the trio of women who broke the gender barrier at the sheriff's Altadena Station: Judy Preimsberger, Judy Evans and the late Charlene "Charlie" Rottler.

"The women on patrol were told to carry their guns in their purses and wear high heels," recalled Carol Freeman, a retired Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who was one of 12 women who became patrol deputies that year.

The women said they complied with the rules -- to a point.

"That was our uniform standard but we did what we needed to do, to not jeopardize our own safety and the safety of our patrols," Preimsberger said.

In the station, or at publicized events, the women carried their pistols in their purses to comply with the uniform code.

In the field, they improvised by rigging their own holsters and tucking their handcuffs into the back of their skirts, Freeman said. Some women deputies took to wearing shorts under their skirts and sneakers or flat shoes instead of heels, she said.

More than three decades later, Sheriff Lee Baca and a room packed with dignitaries and deputies from across Los Angeles County hailed the women's contribution, and unveiled a hall of fame in their honor at the Altadena Station.

Preimsberger and Evans received plaques and Denise Alvarado accepted the plaque for her mother, Charlene Rottler, who died in January.

SA: Top Female Cops

From Times Live:

Women in Western Cape showed their mettle with the command of six police stations across the province being entrusted to the fairer sex.

Margaret Dina Smith was appointed to Oudtshoorn police station, Nomteteleli Mene to Stellenbosch, Denise Brand to Elsie's River, Gerda van Niekerk to Kraaifontein, Regina Makawu to Gugulethu and Sharon Govender to Paarl.

Another feather in the female cap is the appointment of Yoliswa Matakata as head of crime intelligence in Western Cape.

India: Women's Prison

From the Indian Express:

Prison authorities are all set for the inauguration of Maharashtra’s first open jail for women at Yerawada Central Prison in Pune. The open jail is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 26, 2010.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Inspector General of Police (Prisons) Uddhav Kamble appreciated the state government for approving their proposal for an open jail for women.

“The main benefit is that women prisoners will now get remission in their punishment. So far, this facility was only for male prisoners as the state has four open jails for men,” Kamble said.

“Besides reduction in prison term, the open jail will also help in improving the living condition of women prisoners. Those eligible for open jail will be given training in farming, painting, weaving and other skills. The women prisoners will also be given remuneration for their work. They will be equipped with new skills and knowledge which will also improve their physical and mental conditions,” he said.

Female Mob Bailed

From Eyewitness News:

Thirty-eight women accused of killing an alleged rapist were granted free bail by an Eastern Cape Magistrate on Monday.

The suspects appeared at Engcobo Magistrate Court on a charge of murder.

They allegedly assaulted a 27-year-old man on Friday. He subsequently died of his injuries.

The man was granted bail by the same court on a rape charge before the alleged assault.

The police’s Mzukisi Fatyela said the case against the women was postponed to November.

“All of them were granted free bail and the case has been remanded to the 17th of November," said Fatyela.

India: Traffic Brigade

From Kamaal Saiyed @ Indian Express:

For the first time in the state, 75 women in Surat have been recruited for the city traffic brigade. At present, they are undergoing theoretical and practical training and will be deployed on traffic duty from Gandhi Jayanti, October 2.

As many as 52 women were present in the first phase of the training. The recruited women are all between the age group of 18 and 35 years.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffid) B M Chauhan said: “We have started training them. Both theoretical and practical training are been given to them for the last four days. We are also taking them to different traffic junctions as part of the training. We will deploy them on the job from October 2. The new brigades are giving excellent performance in their training. The second phase of another group will be started in the coming few month.”

Darshna Rathod, who has done MA, B.Ed, said: “My husband works in a textile factory at Pandesara and we stay in a joint family. I tried for jobs at many places in schools and tuition classes but they all demanded donations. We were not much financially sound. I was informed of the recruitment drive and decided to join the service. My in-laws had no objection and they supported me to take care of the children.”

Afghan National Police - Female Recruits

From the GOV Monitor:

Thirteen extraordinary women are quietly making history in the most conservative corner of Afghanistan.Fearlessly, the first thirteen female Afghan National Police recruits in Helmand Province now stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts in their fight against crime and the Taliban insurgency.

Fighting the Taliban on a daily basis is a dangerous job, but these women have the added burden of having to work undercover, terrified that their neighbours and, in some cases, their families might find out what they do with potentially lethal consequences.

Hosne Ara Begum

From Modern Ghana:

Recently, the government appointed the first ever Officer in Charge (OC) of a police station in the history of the Bangladesh police force. Hosne Ara Begum was assigned as the OC of a police station in the capital city of Dhaka and started working in her new position on May 18, 2009.

Hosne Ara Begum started her challenging career with the Bangladesh police as a sub-inspector back in 1981. In her long 28 years of service, she had worked in many regions of Bangladesh, in different police jurisdictions and departments, including the Intelligence Branch of the Bangladesh police.

The Bangladesh police force introduced its first female officers back 1974, with only 14 officers. After 35 years, the numbers of female police members are now 1,937, and among them 1,331 police constables the minor label member.

A report of the local human rights organization Odhikar says that 5,816 women and children were raped between 2001 and 2007. Among the victims, 636 women were killed and 69 committed suicide after being raped. Also, 1,024 women were victims of acid burns and 1,884 were subjected to dowry-related violence. Of those, 1,241 were killed, 479 were tortured, 61 sustained acid injuries, and 95 committed suicide.

One female police OC alone will not be able to make a large impact. It is equally important that, in Bangladesh's male-oriented society, men should change their actions and attitudes toward women in a positive way.

Pakistani Police Sex Scandal

From the Times of India:

Authorities in Pakistan's Punjab province have suspended five women police personnel and launched a probe following allegations that they were involved in a sex racket.

The scandal has rocked the women's police department and officials fear the issue will make it more difficult for newcomers to join the force in a conservative society.

The matter came to light when Inspector Shafia Bakhat, believed to be the head of the racket, "dispatched" two women constables for duty at the residence of an officer of the Lahore Development Authority.

The constables found three "customers" waiting for them at the officer's home, police sources said. When the women constables refused to do the bidding of the officer and his friends, they were allowed to leave but warned that they should not raise an alarm.

However, the women constables reported the matter to the station house officer in Sabzazar police station and he subsequently informed his superiors.

Lahore's SSP (Operations) Shafiq Ahmed suspended Shafia Bakhat and four other women police personnel for alleged involvement in the racket. He also directed SSP (Coordination) Imran Arshad to investigate the matter and submit his findings at the earliest.

According to the initial findings, Inspector Bakhat was involved in the racket for several years. A couple of years ago, she was suspended on similar charges but was reinstated owing to her "strong connections with police high-ups", sources said.

"Shafia targets women police personnel from remote areas with poor family backgrounds. She has a strong network backed by senior police officers and journalists," a source said.

The findings of the probe indicated that she was in league with other persons in Lahore. "Shafia's network uses the codeword 'duty' for such assignments and the same landed her in trouble when she wrongly sent a SMS to personnel who were not part of her network for performing duty at the Lahore Development Authority officer's house," a source said.

Palestine: Female Judges

From Globe & Mail:
"Judge Khuloud al-Faqeeh's biggest fear when she became one of the first two female Palestinian Islamic judges was that men would refuse to stand before her. As in every Arab and Muslim country with the exception of Sudan, only men passed judgment in Islamic courts.

“They expect a man with a beard and a turban,” said Judge al-Faqeeh, smiling wryly from behind her desk as her hand made a circular movement above her cream-coloured satin head scarf.

Considered by many in this male-dominated society to be too emotional to serve as judges, women in Islamic courts were there to receive judgments, not to give them. The results were frequently unfair. But after the appointment of two women judges to Islamic courts in the West Bank last month, Palestinian women have begun to find an understanding ear – and more equitable judgments.

Women across the Muslim world consider the Palestinian women judges a milestone for women's rights. But some disagree, arguing that Islamic law prohibits equality of the sexes."

Female Islamic Judges

From the New Zealand Herald:
"The Islamic courts were among the last male-only bastions in Palestinian society, where women have been presidential candidates, police officers and even suicide bombers.

But Khuloud Faqih, 34, and Asmahan Wuheidi, 31, made history last month when they became the first female Islamic judges in the Palestinian territories.

Across the Arab world, only Sudan has had women judges in Islamic courts, while Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, all relatively progressive states in the region on women's rights, do not.

Muslim courts in the Palestinian Authority rule over family affairs such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and custody, relying on Islamic jurisprudence rather than secular rules.

Palestinian feminists have praised the female judges but say the move will not make a dramatic change, because the judges still rely on Islamic laws that ultimately favour men."

Women Policing Islamabad

From the News International:
"It was Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who institutionalised female police, by setting up separate women’s police stations in Pakistan. This is a concept that now has widespread support in many countries. Several countries have set up women’s police stations with a view to addressing issues of gender and domestic violence, including India, Brazil and the Philippines. India has also sent a first all- women police unit of the peacekeeping force to Liberia in 2007.

The concept of dedicated space to and for female policing by setting up women’s police stations, women’s desks and family support units could make policewomen mediators between society and the law enforcement.

One of the aspects that needed to be taken up after Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s initiative was enactment of rules and procedures that created a legal framework for women policing. This was not done in subsequent governments.

The prospects of women policing in Pakistan are enormous, despite, and perhaps because of, the structural discrimination against women in our society. The social side of policing in Pakistan has always been neglected and the discussion of involvement of women in policing also calls for a greater need to create a community and service oriented police system."


A great initiative that should be further developed - not neglected.

More Female Police in India

From VOA News:
"Calcutta Police will be reserving ten percent of the force for women. The decision comes in the wake of increasing violent behavior by women members of political parties. The number of women committing crimes is also increasing. The police therefore must increase number of women in the force to handle women agitators and criminals."

Female Police Director Killed

From USA Today:

"Two gunmen on a motorbike shot and killed a high-ranking woman police official in Afghanistan's largest southern city Sunday, officials said.

Malalai Kakar was traveling from her home in Kandahar city to the office Sunday when she was shot, said Zalmai Ayubi, spokesman for the Kandahar provincial governor. Her son, 18, was wounded in the attack, he said.

Kakar, 41, was the head of the department of crimes against women in Kandahar city, Ayubi said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility.

Militants frequently attack projects, schools and businesses run by women. The hard-line Taliban regime, which was ousted in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, did not allow women outside the home without a male escort."

Iraq's Female Police Officers

The female members of Iraq's police force are continuing their training in the role to assist in the enforcement of the law within Iraq.

From the Star Tribune:
"The 30-year-old recruit and the 20 other women training at the academy are a critical part of the U.S. and Iraqi response to the latest deadly tactic of al-Qaida in Iraq: female suicide bombers.

But the academy — the only one of its kind in Iraq — is taking that response one step further. For one month, the women stay and train at the academy in the volatile Diyala province with 680 male colleagues.

Unlike many other security programs for women, where they come only during the day and where classes are confined mostly to search methods, this academy offers women the same lessons as men — including weapons training.

Women have been serving as auxiliary members of Iraqi security forces in markets and during pilgrimages, but these recruits will be full-time policewomen once they graduate next week. They also will receive an official police certification from the Ministry of Interior."


And from Yahoo News:

"She was wearing something rarely seen on an Iraqi woman — a police uniform of blue shirts and black pants.

There is still some resistance to women police officers in Diyala, one of the most violent pockets in Iraq. Some men believe the job is too dangerous. Others object to women leaving their families for a month to live at the academy.

Diyala police Maj. Raied Khalaf dismissed the idea of women officers: a "nightingale" who will be "a soft and easy target for abduction and murder."

But as the frequency of female suicide bombers increases, the need to include women in the police forces is overruling the opposition. Iraqi men are reluctant to search women and risk breaking social taboos, and al-Qaida exploits this by having them conceal explosives in long, flowing robes.

The number of attacks by female bombers in Iraq has tripled from eight in 2007 to more than two dozen so far this year, according to U.S. military officials.

Diyala has been particularly vulnerable. Women have carried out 12 suicide attacks this year in the strategic and ethnically diverse province northeast of Baghdad that was a former al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold.

Iraqi and American officials hope the women training at the academy can start closing that gap.

During their month at the academy, the women learn how to tame riots, take apart guns, set up checkpoints and search for weapons. When not in the field, they get courses in first aid and policing ethics.

The recruits — a mix of Shiites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds — are told to place sectarian perspectives and politics aside and put their country first. The women recruits say it will be up to their individual stations on whether they can carry weapons, but many hope they can.

Some are widows whose husbands were killed by militants. Others have disabled husbands and relatives who can't work after being wounded in violence since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. All need steady paychecks to support their children.

About 25 more women are set to attend the academy's next session before the U.S. military turns the center over to Iraqi control in November."


It is encouraging to see women taking a more active role in their nation's future.