Story: Police

First uniformed policewomen, 1952

First uniformed policewomen, 1952

Women were first admitted to the New Zealand Police Force as temporary constables in 1941. They did not wear uniforms, and their duties were geared towards women and children. In 1952 eight of them were chosen as the force’s first female uniformed officers. Shown here at the completion of their training, they are: (back row, left to right) Constables Barbara Halcrow, Leanore Lawrence, Lorna Pedersen, Maureen White, Ngaire Lankow, Pamela Lambie and Edna Pearce; and (front row, left to right) Constable Pat Law, Minister in Charge of the Police W. H. Fortune, Superintendent P. Munro, Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children Hilda Ross and instructor Sergeant George Claridge. Policewomen were paid less than their male colleagues until 1966.

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New Zealand Police Museum
Reference: 2007-339-2

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How to cite this page:

Richard S. Hill, 'Police - Policing a stable society, 1880s to 1960s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33861/first-uniformed-policewomen-1952 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Richard S. Hill, published 20 Jun 2012