I APPLIED to join the NSW Police Force once (Circa 1971). I turned up at the Redfern recruiting centre just for an application form, all keen to help society and engage in a worthwhile career. After a 30-minute inquisition, I left feeling humiliated.

It was found I was two stone underweight. I was 5ft 5in (1.5m) and 8 stone (51kg) at the time and then questioned about how I would react to certain hypothetical situations. Such as being assaulted by a 6ft 6in (1.98m) drunk in Kings Cross? Attending a raid on an orgy, and questioning an alleged rape

victim?

My response was: “You allow uniformed female officers to walk alone in Kings Cross? What law would anyone be breaking at an assumed private orgy? And of course I would be ultra sensitive to a victim of rape, female or male!” The last gender fazed them even more!

Ultimately I was presumed physically a wimp by police standards, as I admitted I had never run 16km in my life and was unlikely to be able to swim 200m fully clothed.

How many cops have to run 16km? I wasn’t applying for the army! Yet I was an excellent horsewoman, (BHS gold medal rating) but they had no female mounted police in NSW at the time.

What did I do for a living? “I’m an employment consultant.” I could interview people, check their references and empathise with them to open up like few others. At the time I was at the top of my field in Sydney. A skill possibly utilised and adjusted to some type of police work.

Ultimately I was denied an application because I was the plaintiff in an undefended divorce and would be too old once the decree absolute was granted.

Hopefully the recruiting ideology has improved since the early 1970s.

However, I have few complaints against our local police.

I have found as a woman, most female police officers I’ve met are easier to communicate with and empathise with me. Should I consult them for help?

Pat Lightfoot

Armidale