Don’t be put off by karate kicks on female Pc, say top officers

WOMEN should not be dissuaded from joining the police after footage of a female officer being karate kicked to the ground went viral, senior police chiefs have urged.

Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, described the violent attack in Merton, south London, as “appalling” and admitted she had no doubt that female officers came across “the odd stupid person on the street” who did not take them seriously.

However, as she reiterated her longterm aim of doubling the proportion of women in the force to 50 per cent, she insisted that women were supported in a manner that would be the envy of many organisations.

The Met, which yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of women in the force, is comprised of 27 per cent women. The gender divide within its specialist firearms command is much greater, with just 63 women compared with 841 men – the equivalent of just 7.5 per cent.

Lucy D’orsi, the deputy assistant commissioner, admitted the force had “some way to go” to improve the representation of women in the armed unit.

She too said that women should not be put off by the brutal attack in which a woman was kicked to the ground during a routine traffic stop, before being left lying dazed in the road clutching her head, feet away from a passing bus.

“Fortunately, I feel that extremity of violence is still rare,” she said.

She stressed that none of her colleagues within the force “come to work and expect to be assaulted”.

The deputy assistant commissioner added: “It is also really disappointing that people chose to just film it or drive by, and for me it is important people do think about calling the police and try and get help for officers.”