Inspiring Inclusion for International Women’s Day

Inspirational female police officers and staff at Cleveland Police have shared what inclusion in the workplace means to them this International Women’s Day (Friday 8 March).

These women, who range from Head of Scientific Support to the National Lead on Violence Against Women and Girls, talk about key moments in their career journeys and share their thoughts on what makes them feel included and valued within a large organisation.

Deputy Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said: “It’s important that we celebrate International Women’s Day as a force, to showcase all the fabulous woman we have working in a variety of police officer and police staff roles across the organisation.

“I joined Durham Constabulary in 1999 from University and I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to take on a number of different challenges in policing. I predominantly spent my career in Crime Investigation becoming one of the first accredited females in Durham to investigate homicides.

“I’m also a mum, which can bring as many challenges as those that policing brings, and I know that many other people across the organisation have caring responsibilities, juggling the priorities of life every day.

“I’ve been personally supported many fabulous women throughout my career, and I’m really inspired by the brilliant women we have here in Cleveland Police in different roles, from Firearms, Road Policing, Intelligence and Crime Investigation to other enabling services such as Human Resources, Media and Finance to name just a few.

“A career in policing can offer some amazing opportunities, and I would encourage women thinking of joining us to take a look at our recruitment page and apply.”

Pic: Deputy Chief Constable Victoria Fuller

The number of women working for Cleveland Police is increasing. 46% of all staff at Cleveland Police are female and 33% of police officers are women. Initiatives such as part-time working, agile working and flexible hours are enabling more women to remain in the workplace whilst balancing a career with caring for families.

Head of Human Resources, Karen Lindberg said: “Here at Cleveland Police we are passionate about delivering the best possible policing service to the communities we serve while providing support and opportunities to people.

“We have a very strong women’s network giving women a voice within the force alongside opportunities for personal development and growth through access to coaching and mentoring, to opportunities to work in a wide variety of roles.

“We have an in-house wellbeing team providing a range of services including counselling and physiotherapy and we have inclusive policies to support women in the workplace such as enhanced maternity schemes and flexible working to support those going through other life changes such as menopause.

“Cleveland Police is somewhere women can feel safe and supported in the workplace while pursuing a hugely rewarding career and it is a great place to work.”

Inspiring Women in Cleveland Police

 

Superintendent Helen Barker – National Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls

Helen joined Cleveland Police in 2001 and has been a trailblazer for women in policing from the start. She was promoted to Sergeant within three years, despite of the lack of support from some male colleagues. Helen was championed in this first step on the career ladder by a female superintendent, who later went on to become Chief Constable herself, and it is this woman to woman support that she has never forgotten. 

Helen continued to break the mould, by applying for promotion to Inspector whilst on maternity leave in 2010.  She went on to become Cleveland Police’s first part-time Inspector.

In 2022, Helen was promoted to Superintendent, and given her dream job of leading Child Safeguarding, Rape and Violence Against Women and Girls, making a difference to women and children in Cleveland. She then went on to be nominated as the National Violence Against Women and Girls Ambassador.

When asked what inclusion means to her, Helen said: “Inclusion for me means being afforded the same opportunities as others, free from misogyny and outdated views where flexibility is seen positively and used to build stronger teams. It means not making assumptions about where people are in their life and want they want. Women in the workplace should be supporting and advocating other women to achieve their potential. The most satisfying part of my role over the last two years had been working with and supporting nine female Detective Constables to be promoted to Sergeant and begin their leadership journeys.

“I am incredibly proud to be female, I have two daughters and I want them to grow up with the same opportunities I have had but without barriers based on their gender.”

 

Vana Stephens – ICT Programme Manager

Vana joined Cleveland Police back in 1997 as an Admin Clerk. Within a year, she had been promoted to Research Officer. She continued to apply for roles that challenged her, going on to become a Crime Analyst, then a Senior Crime Analyst, Research and Audit Manager then finally moved into her current role of ICT Programme Manager.

Vana said: “I have been fortunate enough to meet managers within Cleveland Police who saw my potential and encouraged me to apply for promotions.  Throughout my career I have been supported by some amazing line managers who encouraged me to own my personal development and to step out of my comfort zone.

“As a post-menopausal woman, the flexibility of agile working and the increased flexi bandwidths has really helped me to carry on in a demanding role, working full time, and come out at the other end with my sanity, capability and enthusiasm intact!

 

Chief Superintendent Rachel Stockdale – Head of the Matrix

From joining policing in 1997, Rachel has had an extremely interesting career.  From becoming a Strategic Firearms Commander, to Developing the Philomena Protocol, her recent promotion to Chief Superintendent and heading up the new Matrix Team and achieving fantastic success in a short space of time, Rachel has been in various key decision making and leadership roles.

When thinking about inclusion in the workplace, Rachel said: “Since I joined policing in 1997, lots of work has been undertaken to increase inclusion in the workforce. These changes make me feel safer and more valued as a female at work, and whilst there is still a lot to be done so many barriers have been removed that previously prevented women from achieving promotion and the right equipment is now available for women to undertake specialist roles.

“Inclusion for me means being heard and seen in an organisation where everyone’s views and values are important, encouraged and welcomed. Where people can be who they are and be valued without any expectation to change.”

 

Mandy Johns, Head of Scientific Support

Mandy has worked in Cleveland Police’s Scientific Support Department for the past 31 years. Joining in 1993, Mandy worked her way up through the department, self-funding a degree in Forensic Investigation whilst managing a busy job and raising a family. She then progressed from a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) to a Senior CSI, then a Crime Scene Manager and Coordinator before becoming Head of Service 15 years ago.

Mandy said: “I am proud and privileged to lead the Scientific Support Unit and work with amazing and talented staff right across the command. Forensic evidence is a critical element of the criminal justice system.

“Our staff analyse evidence from crime scenes, mobile devices, computers and CCTV to develop objective findings that can assist in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crime or absolve an innocent person from suspicion. The Command also has dedicated accredited Fingerprint and DNA laboratories, a Footwear Technician, staff who ensure that all forensic evidence is submitted to Forensic Providers in a timely manner providing best value, and a Quality Management Team who ensure that the work carried out maintains integrity and is reliable.

“Throughout my career I have been supported in a significant variety of training opportunities which has assisted me over the years to gain promotion. I currently work full time on consolidated hours which allows me the time to balance my work and home life better.

"I feel it is important to have female leaders that can have a positive impact, serve as role models and inspire other women to pursue leadership roles themselves.”

 

Detective Chief Inspector Deb Fenny, Middlesbrough CID

Deb has really enjoyed her career with Cleveland Police, representing the force when providing mutual aid for huge national policing operations including the London riots and the search for April Jones. She was the first female PSU and Taser instructor for Cleveland Police. One of her career highlights was the day she joined Cleveland Police, as she found her career, her purpose and made lifelong friends. 

Deb said: “Returning to work following a significant period of time following the birth of my children, I had a different outlook on life, with an appreciation and understanding of myself and others. I returned to lead a team and I genuinely feel this was a turning point for me a leader and a person.”

 

Sergeant Rachel Smith, Dog Training Sergeant, Matrix

As a newly promoted Sergeant in 2004, Rachel was invited to be assessed for a Cleveland Police negotiator role. At the time, there were many high-ranking officers in these roles but very few sergeants, so this forced her out of her comfort zone. Rachel secured the role, and eventually became trained to a national standard. This led to her involvement with the delivery of the national training programme, assessing candidates forces across the country along with candidates from special forces and overseas.

This role gave Rachel valuable experience in dealing with officers of all ranks, along with exposure to criminal investigations requiring negotiator involvement.  To be pivotal in helping people in a crisis and saving lives is immeasurable.

Rachel said: “Returning to work following maternity leave was daunting, but the support from my colleagues and supervisor gave me the much-needed flexibility to juggle parenthood and work.

"In 2007 I requested to work part-time and have remained part-time since, working a variety of hours depending on my role. This has allowed me to balance my home and work life. 

“Joining the dog section has been one of the most significant moves of my career. The challenge to learn new skills was just what I needed to develop and keep moving forward.

“Inclusion for me means having the same opportunities as anyone else and that no process disadvantages me.  I don’t feel I have ever been disadvantaged as a result of being a woman and I also don’t feel I have ever had any privileges either. 

"I think inclusion is the responsibility of both the organisation and the individual.  To be able to achieve your goals the organisation needs to support individuals, but equally I believe it is the responsibility of the individual to have an active participation in making this happen, doing your best and being able to reflect honestly on your abilities gives anyone the same opportunity.  Compromise is important.”

 

Detective Inspector Louise Sproson, Hartlepool CID

Louise joined Cleveland Police in 1995 after graduating from University and travelling.  Before she had two years under her belt, Louise saw an opportunity to apply for the burglary squad in CID.  Feeling unsure about applying as she was young in service, she decided to be brave and apply as she really wanted to be an investigator.  Louise was successful and her life as a detective in Hartlepool CID began.

Moving from Middlesbrough Response to Hartlepool CID was a little daunting at first, but Louise loved her time there.  The teams were welcoming and she had great success.  One of her career highlights was securing a life sentence for a rapist.  To know that she had caught and convicted him and assisted in the recovery of the victim filled her with pride.

When Louise went on to have children, she was supported by her supervision and went on to Acting Detective Sergeant roles, preparing her for the next step of her career. Louise went on to be promoted to Sergeant then Inspector, but says that in both cases was not successful on her first attempt.

Louise said: “The valuable lesson is to keep trying if you want something. I identified what I could improve on and ensured that I invested time in my own development in order to achieve my goal.

“Inclusion of women in the workplace is important as we need a range of skills and abilities in different roles. In policing both men and women are paid the same salary, which is positive compared to some industries. I feel that both sexes are given the same opportunities in policing, however in some cases women do not apply for something because they may focus on the barriers of the role rather than the positive things that they can bring. The message from me for women in Cleveland is…. you can do it, be brave, give it a go, what is the worst that can happen?  

“Cleveland Police has supported me as a woman throughout my career, affording me the same opportunities as men.”