WOMEN IN POLICING
FOCUS ON FEMALES AND FIREARMS
There are more than 50,000 women in policing across England and Wales, but there is still a limited number of females in firearms roles
It was a completely different environment from Gatwick, where regular officers, PCOS, and different departments from the airport community operated.”
Shelley was the only female officer within the department. This spurred her to apply for a National Firearms Instructor role, so she could support other women.
“I thought it would encourage more females to apply if I became an instructor,” Shelley explained. “I hoped that they would be inspired to join the unit, diminishing the stigma of it being dominant by males.” “I have tried to create a comfortable learning space and pleasant environment. To
Shelley described the fitness requirements for all firearms officers: “JRFT of 9.4 is required, which is achievable. My role is to help females with training and general fitness levels. Holding a shield and enforcer can put some off from continuing. Being a female on the course, there is a feeling of being more visible, especially when surrounded by men, but you need to try and stick with it – we need an even split of males and females within this expert area.” “I focus on creating bespoke packages for women looking to work in firearms,” she continued. “Anyone interested can attend the training venue to familiarise themselves, look at the kit and equipment, and remember it is a team effort, accessing the team’s dynamics to conduct an operation.
“Since being an instructor, I have tried to create a comfortable learning space and a pleasant environment, especially for women”
join TFU, there is a selection to pass. This includes a Job
Sussex Police’s PC Shelley Dodman has spoken to POLICE Mag about her desire to join the police and focus on firearms: “I did the usual when leaving school, attending college to complete my A-levels with a view to going to university, but I realised it was not for me.
“I have always had a passion for sports and fitness and played women’s football at county level,” she said. “At the age of 21, I pursued a career within the police.’’ Shelley outlined her career after passing the Initial Firearms Course in 2009. ”I was posted to Gatwick Airport as an Authorised Firearms Officer. In 2016, I was posted to the Tactical Firearms Unit (TFU) at Lewes Head Quarters. The environment was very male-orientated.
24 | POLICE | FEBRUARY 2023
Related Fitness Test (JRFT) This can be quite challenging for the average person. “When women attend the Initial Firearms Course and pass, they realise quite early that the balance sways to males. I am the only female who has stuck around since 2009.
“If women can encourage more women, we can start balancing this out. Unfortunately, sometimes women come to a venue only to find unsuitable facilities for them, such as accessible toilets. Another area where women struggle is fitness requirements, causing mental blocks and imposter syndrome. Men generally walk in positively with an ‘I can do this’ attitude. Women, on the other hand, have a fear of failure.”
“Communication is vital. Many people we deal with have mental health issues or can be armed themselves. We want to make them feel safe, so talking them down and de-compressing the situation without using
firearms is a significant part of the role – this often sits better with a female officer, as it is less intimidating.” Last year, PC Dodman was presented with the Women in Policing Award for her outstanding work. “I was taken out by my Federation for a lovely meal and awarded my certificate. I received fantastic social media responses from family, friends, and colleagues, congratulating me on my achievement.”
Shelley shares her plans for the next 12 months: “I plan to reach out to as many female officers as possible, help them to develop the right skills for the role, and improve their fitness levels. By doing this, we should start to see more female officers within firearms, creating a level playing field, which provides a realistic representation of society.”
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