Credibility is the key to earning respect

DEPUTY CHIEF CONSTABLE FIONA TAYLOR

SCOTLAND’S top female officer believes there has been a cultural shift in attitudes towards women in the force. Fiona has 24 years’ service under her belt. Police Scotland is her fifth force, having done stints at the former Lothian and Borders, Strathclyde and Lincolnshire. She was also an assistant commissioner at the Met in London and credits her male colleagues with helping her rise to the very top. She joined Police Scotland in June. Fiona said: “Clearly there can be individuals whose behaviour is inappropriate but my experience is slightly different. I’ve moved about in Scotland and England and far more male colleagues have set out to assist me than undermine me.

“South of the Border, the most senior police officer in the country, the Met Commissioner, is female. That sends a really strong message.

“In my five years in London, at management board level you have several women in various roles from female deputies to female commanders.”

Fiona said society may see these roles as “male-dominated” and added: “Historically male-dominated areas of the police service are actually being run by senior female officers and the same is true in Police Scotland. We now genuinely promote on merit.”

Unlike the popular misconception of the roles of women in policing, Fiona believes that gender doesn’t matter if you’re good at your job.

She added: “I was promoted to sergeant within two-and-a-half years of joining the force.

“If I hadn’t listened to people in my team, male and female, I would have made a fool of myself very quickly. There is something about having the humility to listen, get people on board and work with them. It doesn’t really matter the gender of the officers you are working with, it’s about how you come across as their leader.”

Fiona said that in her experience, police officers look for professionalism in their commanders, and confidence and credibility are the keys to stamping out any casual sexism or misosgyny that may still exist in the force.

She said: “I’m keen to turn it on its head. We have three females at the highest ranks. It shows it’s not a bleak picture for women in policing.”