International Women's Day: Admin worker Kate, the history maker

Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day when people around the world celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness about discrimination.  

When 19-year-old Katarina Gavrilovic signed up to be a police officer in 1975, she did not realise that she would be a pioneer for gender equality.  

Kate as she’s better known, was one of the first eight female police officers to join the force after the Sex Discrimination Act came into effect. 

In policing, this meant the end of the Police Women's department in the force, which dealt with incidents senior male officers deemed appropriate for females to handle.  

These centred on the then rare reports of domestic abuse or child cruelty, ‘caring for’ female victims and ‘looking after’ female suspects. 

From that point 50-years-ago, women like Kate would have the same training and powers as their male counterparts and could attend any incident, although the way that was applied reflected the sexist views of the time, as Kate explains.  

“Some sergeants and inspectors would still reserve the ‘pink’ jobs for the women but others would deliberately send us to highly dangerous incidents saying: ‘You wanted equality and now you’ve got it!’ They did it to try and prove a point - that we were incapable,” said Kate. 

“I always liked to prove them wrong, but you’ve got to remember that at the time, we did not have the kit and equipment officers today have.  

“We wore skirts which were impractical and had tiny truncheons that were much smaller than male truncheons, which we had to store in the handbags we were made to carry while on duty. 

“There were no stab vests or bodyworn video, there was no incapacitant spray, and the huge analogue walkie-talkies were not the most reliable and didn’t track our location on maps like today’s Airwave radios. Handcuffs were fiddly things on chains unlike modern speedcuffs. 

“Our personal safety training consisted of a few hours - it wasn’t a patch on today’s annual two-day intensive courses. 

“Thinking about it, we really were ill-prepared but then again, they were different times. Yes, we had the very real threat of IRA terrorists who were targeting our area, but we didn’t face the day-to-day violence and abuse that officers experience today and, of course knife crime was much rarer back then.” 

The introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act was so important, that the Birmingham Evening Mail were there to capture the moment Kate and her pioneering colleagues started their police training at Tally Ho! in Edgbaston.  

In the paper’s report on the historic moment, an unimpressed police spokesman said only: “The girls seem to like equality.” 

And Kate did like equality. After completing her training, Kate was posted to Dudley. 

“I’d patrol the town centre, Kate’s Hill and surrounding areas dealing with all kinds of issues. 

“I have such find memories of that time.”  

When asked about those memories, unlike many officers, Kate cannot recall her first arrest. Instead, she remembers the three children who she was called to safeguard when their mother abandoned them in favour of going out. 

“A colleague and I forced our way into the house. Inside, there were three kiddies all alone in the house. They were crying their eyes out.  

“Mum had wanted to go the bingo and so she did. She just left her babies in the house and went to the bingo hall.  

“They were dirty and there was no food in the house. It was a classic case of neglect. I’ll never forget taking them back to the station and buying them some sweets from the station canteen. They were so hungry those bars of chocolate disappeared in seconds and the kids nearly had my fingers off! 

“I often think about those kids and wonder what ever happened to them. It was terribly sad.” 

Despite the difference she made, Kate soon realised that policing was not what she imagined.  

“After about two years, I concluded that policing wasn’t for me. It just didn’t click with me,” said Kate.  

“As an officer you need to know so much law. I really struggled retaining that information along with all the force policy and processes.   

“Today, all that information is available online and searchable within a few clicks on a phone or laptop. Back then, you had to know it inside out and back to front, or there’d be trouble! 

“I loved the work and the people, but I had to make a decision that was right for me. 

“I’d like to think that I made a difference to some people, and I’m still in touch with colleagues from that time. 

“I have no regrets about my choice to be a police officer – especially as I met my husband, Simon, while working at Dudley police station and I passed my driving test!” 

After leaving, Kate worked in a travel agents and the Law Society before rejoining a few years later as a switchboard operator, answering calls coming into Halesowen police station and helping when needed on the public counter. After six years, she left to have her first child. 

She worked in other roles outside the force but returned in 2003 to join the West Bromwich admin team, where she still works.  

Today she supports officers by issuing them with bodyworn video cameras, radios and incapacitant spray. She distributes the mail and keeps essential supplies topped up so officers are ready for anything. She’s also ready to offer with words of advice and support for new starters. 

“Very few people know about my past as a police officer, let alone the fact I was one of the first to join when equality laws changed. But it’s given me great insight when I’m helping officers in my current role.  

“I fully appreciate the challenges they face and I’m always happy to share a few words of advice or help where I can, especially with the new starters who are finding their feet.  

“They’re policing in a different world to me but at the heart of it, we each joined because we know that this work matters. We each recognised that we have the potential to change lives for the better with every single interaction. I’m not sure that will ever change. 

“I Iove my job and helping people where I can.” 

As a thank you to Kate, we invited her to a passing out parade for new officers where we recreated some of the pictures captured by the Birmingham Evening Mail. 

Women were first allowed to serve in our region from April 1917, with World War One driving the need for women to take up what were traditionally seen as “men’s jobs”.  

They did not have the same powers as male police officers and were bound by rules and regulations which did not apply to men in their police station.  

This included being forbidden to arrest people under criminal law, meaning they had the same powers as ordinary members of the public. This only changed in 1933. 

You can discover more about the history of women in policing at our museum.  

Visit their website to book your tickets or to buy the book: 100 years of service, commemorating a century of women in policing.