Surrey’s first female inspector

Women in policing

Miss Margery Urquhart became the first female inspector of the permanent Womens’ Auxiliary Police Corps in Surrey in 1944.

She was a pioneer of her time.

Women served Surrey Constabulary since 1914, but not consistently.

In the first year of World War One, the Women Police Volunteer Service, later renamed the Women Police Service (WPS), was founded by Margaret Dawson and Nina Boyle.

Service

The WPS was originally formed to discourage young women from entering prostitution and provide protection.

Leaders of regional police forces – including Surrey Constabulary – began to see the benefit of having female police officers deal with cases involving women and juveniles.

In 1918, the first policewoman – a sergeant – was employed in Surrey.

She was posted to Farncombe to deal with prostitutes that had moved into the area close to the army camp at Witley.

She left at the end of the war, and for a time, no more women entered the workforce.

Outbreak of war

However, when the Second World War began in 1939, the Under Secretary of State recommended that police resources could be supplemented by employing women on certain duties.

This generated considerable criticism and resentment from many within Surrey Constabulary, but the Force still took a major step forwards to recruit women as an integral part of their service.

It was on January 1 1942 that the Surrey Standing Joint Committee gave permission to proceed with the enrolment of 70 women to the Constabulary.

Initially they were employed on a temporary basis and unpaid. They were known as The Women’s Auxiliary Police Corps (WAPC).

Single women

Despite being issued with uniforms, members of the WAPC were not permitted police powers initially, and their duties were limited to driving motor vehicles, clerical work, and telephone or wireless ops.

They were also permitted to carry out canteen duties and maintain motor vehicles and other police equipment.

Women recruited into post had to be ‘of average intelligence and single’, although they could be widows; between 22 and 35 years of age; and not less than 5’ 4″ tall.

A permanent establishment of the WAPC was authorised in 1944 and Miss Margery Urquhart became the first woman inspector.

Limited police powers allowed them to deal with issues relating to women and children, although a few were trained for patrol duties.

Slow change

On March 31 1946, the WAPC was disbanded and only those considered suitable were transferred to the ‘Regular Policewomen Service’.

It was during this time that the prefix ‘W’ was first used to denote female officers.

It was not until the 1970s that policewomen were integrated directly into the main force, with its first female detectives being hired in 1974.

And it wasn’t until the late 1980s that Surrey Police welcomed its first female dog handler and motorcyclist.

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