The highest ranking female officer in Thames Valley Police has been a driving force behind a new national blueprint on the future of women in the service.

Assistant Chief Constable Julie Spence, who is president of the British Association of Women Police, was one of a ten-strong executive group that has spent the past 18 months putting together the Gender Agenda.

The document outlines the main issues and dilemmas affecting female officers, including managers only grudgingly considering part-time working or flexible hours equipment and protective clothing designed for men rather than women.