The RGP’s ‘Women in Policing Network’ was launched yesterday by Minister Samantha Sacramento, and the Commissioner of Police, Richard Ullger, addressed the first official forum for female police officers. 

A statement from the RGP follows below:

In his welcome, the Commissioner stressed that he wanted to change the culture of  his organisation by making it more inclusive. He said that he was embarrassed by  the RGP’s historical failures in this regard in the past, although he stressed that the  RGP was now willing to learn from its previous mistakes. He also drew everyone’s  attention to the number of female officers amongst the UK’s top level of Command  and said that he wanted to promote talented people to Command level in Gibraltar,  no matter what their gender or ethnicity. 

In her address, Minister Sacramento emphasised that a diverse workforce, in any  organisation, would prove to be a better, more productive and more effective  workforce. So quite apart from making the business care for it, it should also be the  moral and ethical goal. She said that this was all the more important in an  organisation such as the RGP which should reflect the community that it serves. In  particular, she drew everyone's attention to the fact that the RGP has never had a  female officer above the rank of Sergeant. 

Sgt Patricia Gonzalez, the Chair of the new network said, ‘This first meeting was well  attended and it contained a mix of backgrounds, experience, gender orientation and  ethnicity. There was a feeling that the RGP now has an environment in which  female officers are valued. Our discussions focussed on Recruitment, Retention and  Progression and we heard some excellent ideas and gained some really useful  feedback. Everyone left the meeting on a high.’