The NPIA's growing reputation for delivering first class training both nationally and internationally has been vastly enhanced by the delivery of the first all women's course delivered to senior police women in Ghana earlier this year. In March Superintendent Alison Queen (NPIA International Policing Advisor, Africa) and Diane Lowe (retired C/Supt, Associate tutor NPIA), delivered a week long development programme to 20 senior police women at the HQ in Accra. Situated in the west of Africa, Ghana boasts a police service of 22,000 officers.  They have just appointed a female commissioner of Police, Elizabeth Mills-Robertson who is already making positive inroads to providing a service which is a more  inclusive and representative organisation. The course was modelled on the highly successful senior women's development programme run by the NPIA in the UK. The course focuses on giving senior women skills to compete successfully with men for the highest positions in policing.  Skills including emotional intelligence, influence, brand, interpersonal skills, transformational leadership and Covey's circle of influence.

The module in Africa also included some critical incident command training, decision logs and conflict resolution. The students were also given homework which I am pleased to say they attacked with enthusiasm. To end the course all students had a one-to-one meeting with one of the tutors and then developed an action plan to take back to the workplace. So you may ask, "why an all women's course?". 

Well, it is part of a positive drive to increase female representation at all levels of the service, not just here but worldwide. Globally, females tend to be under represented at all ranks, and particularly the higher ranks. By working together, women not only get the benefit of the subject matter but also they gain support, empathy, understanding and learning from others. The feedback from the Ghana course was exceptionally positive and it is hoped that this course will be repeated, not only in Ghana but in other African countries. There is now interest from America, also.

If you are a female officer or a female member of police staff of C/insp rank or above or staff equivalent and are interested in taking this opportunity to develop yourself then please contact the International Academy Bramshill.

Diane Lowe