Adapted tactical equipment. Mentoring programmes. Police stations staffed only by women. For decades, police agencies have innovated and evolved to ensure that their police forces keep up with the needs of communities.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Interpol, the organisation’s Directorate of Capacity Building and Training has published a compendium entitled Policing with a Gender Perspective: Law enforcement initiatives from around the world, which includes global initiatives aimed at achieving gender inclusivity.

Thanks to contributions from nearly 50 countries, regional organisations and the Interpol General Secretariat, the compendium analyses how police forces are performing today:

– working to increase the number of women in all areas of policing,

– creating institutional mechanisms for reform,

– mentoring and supporting future generations of police leaders,

– taking into account the gender dynamics of crime.

The initiatives in the compendium are a true reflection of the countries that make up Interpol and demonstrate the wide range of efforts being made to bring about lasting institutional change. From specific training courses to inclusion in rapid response teams, awareness campaigns and programmes against gender-based violence, countries have proven that there is no single solution to achieving representation.

The shift towards greater representation and equality is an ongoing task, and Interpol is determined to achieve this goal, both within the organisation and in its 195 member countries. Men now occupy the majority of senior positions in police agencies, making them unquestionably key agents of change. With this in mind, the compendium puts emphasis on the idea that men can also contribute to making gender equality the new normal.

Police officers play a crucial role in society. They are responsible for maintaining law and order, deterring and investigating crime, and protecting individuals and communities. The police are dynamic and must constantly adapt to a changing criminal landscape, emerging technologies and social changes in order to carry out the tasks entrusted to them effectively.  

Gender diversity is a prerequisite for ensuring this adaptability. Only with this diversity will it be possible to make the strategic decisions necessary to protect and serve all communities.

A diverse police service has a deeper understanding of the needs of their community and can build stronger relationships, thus facilitating more effective policing.

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