The Met marks 100 years of women police officers

Thousands of serving and retired police officers are taking part in a service at Westminster Abbey to mark 100 years of women police officers in the Metropolitan Police.

It echoes the service of 100 years ago held at the Abbey to honour the fallen police officers of the First World War. That service, on 17 May 1919, was the first occasion on which female Met officers wore their uniforms in public.

There will be a range of testimonies and readings by women officers of varying ranks and departments, including a recollection of the 1919 service written after it took place, read by Lilian Wyles, the Met’s first woman in CID.

Metropolitan Police Commission Cressida Dick said: “One hundred years ago today, Met Police women appeared in public for the first time at a special service at Westminster Abbey held to honour the losses of officers in the first world war.

" A century on, in 2019, I am delighted that Westminster Abbey will once again host a unique service and welcome on this occasion not just a handful, but thousands of Met police women, who will represent even more of their colleagues."