Judith Gillespie, Policing Pioneer

4-28-2014-2-58-31-PM

 

“If you saw a woman officer back in 1982, she would not have had any of the personal protective equipment you have today and would probably be wearing a skirt – back in those days you actually had to apply for permission to wear trousers.

“It took a European Court ruling in 1994, following a challenge by a female officer, for us to be able to carry firearms. When I first joined I was issued with a handbag.” – Jane Hall

 

March 12, 2014 – Cliff Caswell speaks to the first female ACPO officer in Northern Ireland on the highs and lows of her three decades in policing.

When a young Judith Gillespie (pictured) joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1982, Northern Ireland was a very different – and altogether more violent – policing environment.

With the Provisional IRA campaign at its height officers – like members of the Armed Forces – were routinely targeted by improved explosive devices, firearms and booby traps. During the years of the Troubles, when British troops were routinely deployed on the streets if the province in a 38-year continuous operation, more than 300 members of the policing community paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

But as a woman in the male dominated force, Constable Gillespie was not issued with any personal protective equipment. Unlike the men she served alongside she did not carry a firearm – even though bitter experience had shown terrorist action did not discriminate on gender.

“When I joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary back in the early 1980s females accounted for around 10 per cent of the workforce – as opposed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) where they now make up more than a quarter,” the officer, who is now approaching retirement as deputy chief constable, told PoliceOracle.com.

“If you saw a woman officer back in 1982, she would not have had any of the personal protective equipment you have today and would probably be wearing a skirt – back in those days you actually had to apply for permission to wear trousers.

“It took a European Court ruling in 1994, following a challenge by a female officer, for us to be able to carry firearms. When I first joined I was issued with a handbag.”

By all accounts DCC Gillespie has seen some remarkable changes in the situation in Northern Ireland since she first joined the police. The Troubles have long ended, the province is an altogether more peaceful place and the PSNI is seen as one of the most progressive forces in the western world.

In the very different world of the 1980s, however, the deputy chief admitted that it was the influence of her father – a firm believer in community – who inspired her to become an officer. “He realised that you sometimes have to take a lead yourself in improving and changing things,” she said.

“In terms of being a female – particularly now in a senior rank – I have always tried to be a visual role model within the force, showing others that you can get married and have children as well as progressing a career and being a successful chief officer.”

Following her father’s example DCC Gillespie said that she had been particularly proud to have been in a position to affect change in the PSNI. Soon after the force formation, leaders had decided to take positive action in a move to make it more representative of the communities it served.

As well as attracting more candidates from Catholic communities through the door, she pointed out that more women had also joined as a result of the initiative – and was convinced that forces on the UK mainland could learn from the recruitment experience.

DCC Gillespie has certainly won a great deal of respect from all ranks within the PSNI. Recognised for her approachable manner and leadership acumen, the born-and-bred north Belfast resident is the first ever officer to be appointed to the ACPO team in Northern Ireland.

During her career she has placed a focus on the professional development of colleagues, including serving as a syndicate director on the Strategic Command Course in Bramshill – as well as placing a special emphasis on ensuring vulnerable victims are assisted.

She received an OBE in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours and has racked up a raft of academic successes – including a BA in Public Policy and Administration and a masters in Applied Criminology from Cambridge. Stateside she is a graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute.

“As with any career of more than 30 years there have been a number of highs and lows along the way,” recalled DCC Gillespie. “There have been many good times, with last year’s World Police and Fire Games one of them that immediately springs to mind.

“I shall never forget being with Dame Mary Peters to light the cauldron for the event – which went off extremely well and it was a very positive experience for Northern Ireland.”

However, DCC Gillespie also highlighted that her career had also been touched with tragedy with the loss of friends and colleagues. In particular she recalled a particularly black day on November 28 2008 – when several colleagues had died in a road traffic collision.

“It was a particularly bad time,” she recalled. “Four officers were killed in the Land Rover at Warren Point at a time when I was an assistant chief constable. It was such a tragic situation, and I had to try to bring some comfort on the most difficult of days.”

DCC Gillespie has certainly seen the best and worst of times in Northern Ireland. Through the bloody days of the Troubles, through the optimism of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the transformation of policing, she has consistently been at the heart of change.

“The PSNI is well regarded, not only here but also across the world,” she concluded. “I leave it in a good place going forward, recruiting again and with committed officers. I know too that I shall always remained committed to the Northern Ireland community.”

DCC Gillespie is one of the guest speakers at the Senior Women in Policing conference, which begins in Belfast on March 12.

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