6 NEWS
Inspiring staff across the country thanks to technology
SOCA staff based at four different sites were able to watch an inspirational lunchtime seminar being held miles away in London, thanks to the use of video conferencing technology. Women working at Calder, Birmingham and Bristol heard Siobhan Benita speak to their colleagues at the Spring Gardens office in London. Siobhan, an ex-senior civil servant, ran for London Mayor last summer as an independent candidate against Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone. In her seminar she shared with SOCA staff the challenges she faced through the campaign – not least getting the exposure she needed in the media.
Chair of SOCA’s Gender Group, Hilary Clarkson, was in the audience and says what she
remembers most about Siobhan’s seminar was her comment about achieving what earlier in her career had seemed the unachievable. “She recalled to us that standing against Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson seemed an impossible, ridiculous, suggestion by friends. However, Siobhan had stood back, thought it through and broke it down into realistic chunks. She gathered, reliable, truly supportive friends around her who were prepared to assist her campaign. However it was her passion for the population of London and desire to fairly represent residents that drove her,” said Hilary. “Siobhan told us that she believes she has come away a stronger person. She urged us all to ‘think the unthinkable’ and be prepared to consider all opportunities that come along, however wacky they may appear.”9
Siobhan shared her campaign story with SOCA staff
Lest we forget...
EVERY UK female police officer who has died while on duty since 1944 has been recorded on The Police Roll of Honour Trust website. The website gives details, and where possible photographs, of all 54 women. It is maintained by members of the Board of Trustees for the Police Memorial Trust and also features a list of the male officers who have lost their lives. Four of the eight Board representatives have family members listed on one of the
Rolls of Honour. Trust Chairman Sydney MacKay, father of Nina MacKay who was murdered in 1997, says the website has been put together to act as a central permanent record of all officers who have fallen in the line of duty. He added: “To them we all owe an immense debt of gratitude and a firm resolve
never to forget their sacrifice.” Members of the Board continue to research ‘on duty’ deaths to ensure all officers
are included. 9
Visit the website at:
www.policememorial.or
g.uk and select ‘Female Officers Roll of Honour’ from the ‘Roll of Honour’ drop down menu.
THAMES VALLEY POLICE HELP DV VICTIMS
VICTIMS of domestic violence have taken part in a force sponsored Springboard development programme to help them turn their lives around.
Eight women joined the first course, which
was organised by Local Area Training Officer Pat Miller. Pat, who secured the funding and approval
from the Chief Constable Sara Thornton, said: “Women who attended this course had to
have left the abuse and be living in safe accommodation. It was crucial that they were ready to step away from being a victim and wanted to the gain the skills to get on with their lives.” Chief Executive of the Springboard
Consultancy Jenny Daisley, says this is the first ever Springboard Women’s development programme run specifically for victims of domestic violence. “When Thames Valley Police approached us about it we worked co- operatively with their expertise and our programme. We are pleased that this experimental pilot programme has gone so well,” she said. 9
GRAPEVINE Spring 2013
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