Current timestamp: 03/02/2023 13:01:17
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

South Wales Police_ website_ left-hand Corner_ flat White Crest

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • How to tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
    • Abnormal vehicle load
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Seventy-five years of women in policing in Cardiff

Main article content

Navigation

Featured

13:45 14/01/2022

Today there is no role within South Wales Police that a woman cannot play, and the invaluable contributions made by female colleagues - both today and throughout history - have helped shape the progressive organisation we’ve become.

However, there was a time when certain roles within the police service in south Wales excluded women. Despite temporarily fulfilling auxiliary and patrol duties during the two World Wars, women were still excluded from becoming regular and permanent police officers in south Wales. That was until January 1947, when a small cohort of seventeen women were appointed for duty as constables of the Cardiff City Police.

20150305143720664_0001 (crop).jpg

Pictured here in training are then-newly appointed Cardiff WPCs Joan Coke, Beatrice Coleman, Natalie Davies, Gwyneth Dane, Margaret Gardner, Mary Jones, Gladys Leach, Beryl Montague, Florence Sole, Edna Trolley, Hilda Whiticombe, Elizabeth Trick, Ilma Wilson, Netta Lewis, Vera Ferrer, Agnes Sandoe and Beatrice O’Brien.

A number of these recruits would go on to develop in their roles as police officers. Vera Ferrer would end her service with Cardiff as a Sergeant, and officers Joan Coke and Beatrice O’Brien would eventually serve with South Wales Police after the force’s amalgamation in 1969.

In her career, Joan Coke received a Chief Constable’s commendation and later held the distinction of being the first female police officer of south Wales to retire with a full police pension in 1973. Beatrice O’Brien retired as an Acting Inspector, having served a thirty-year career as a police officer.

Whether they knew it at the time or not, the appointments of these officers would mark a new beginning in the modernisation of policing in south Wales. By the end of 1947, the Merthyr Tydfil Borough Constabulary would also appoint female officers and neighbouring forces in Glamorgan and Swansea would appoint their own WPCs soon after.

Seventy-five years on, we remember the first female police officers appointed for duty in Cardiff. 

Do you recognise any of the names listed above? If you have information on any those listed above, please get in touch at [email protected]. With your help we can build upon and preserve our force’s heritage.

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

South Wales Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • Careers
  • About us
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention advice
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police and Crime Commissioner
  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police

Language

  • Cymraeg

Follow us on

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.