FEMALE CHAIRS PART 1


HISTORIC RISE IN FEMALE LEADERSHIP


Leadership within the Police Federation of England and Wales is undergoing a quiet revolution, one led by a record number of women stepping into roles of influence, visibility and impact


Left to right > Helen Stamp, Tiff Lynch, Jess Davies, Aileen O’Conner, Lisa Flanagan, Liz Groom, Paula Dodds


For the first time in its 106-year history, the Federation has eight female branch chairs serving across the country, joined at the top by Tiff Lynch, only the second woman ever elected as National Chair. This is more than a statistic. It’s a


signal of cultural transformation within policing, a profession historically shaped by tradition and hierarchy. These women bring with them not only years of operational experience, but also lived perspectives that are helping reshape what leadership looks like and who it represents.


In the following interviews, these pioneering chairs speak candidly about their journeys, their vision for the future,


34 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2025


and the very real challenges they’ve faced and continue to challenge. Their words, presented unaltered, offer insight into a Federation that is becoming more inclusive, more resilient, and more representative of the people it serves. This is a defining moment. And these are the women defining it.


TIFF LYNCH NATIONAL CHAIR What does this moment, having a record number of women leading Federation branches, mean to you personally and professionally?


Both personally and professionally, I am absolutely delighted to see more women becoming Federation representatives and being elected to leadership positions locally and nationally. I want to see a police service, and Police Federation, that reflects the diverse communities we serve. While there is still much to do, it is heartening to see the number of women Federation representatives, and officers from other protected characteristics, putting themselves forward to be reps and being elected – whether that’s workplace reps or reps on branch councils. In the Police Federation’s 106-year


history, I am only the second woman to hold the position of National Chair.


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