West Yorkshire Police launches dedicated 'Women of Colour in Policing' group to tackle workplace barriers
The newly formed Women of Colour in Policing group will act as a vital tactical working group to tackle workplace bias and drive inclusivity across West Yorkshire Police
A new dedicated tactical working group has been officially launched within West Yorkshire Police aimed at enhancing the workplace confidence, lived experience, and career progression of women of colour across the force.
The official launch of the Women of Colour in Policing (WOCIP) group took place earlier today (May 18), bringing together officers and staff from across West Yorkshire, alongside regional allies and guests from partner forces.
Operating as a dedicated local tactical unit under the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP), the group has been established to provide targeted support, clear career pathways, and an empowered network for minority ethnic women within the service.
Organisers emphasised that women of colour in the service face a distinctly unique set of career challenges, where the compounding impacts of racism, sexism, and other systemic biases can significantly affect both personal well-being and professional development.
The group's primary objective is to actively dismantle these cultural barriers while building a more inclusive and representative working environment.
The launch featured a preliminary address from Chief Constable Sir John Robins, who aligned himself firmly as a WOCIP ally; Sir John spoke of his continued commitment to addressing the structural and cultural hurdles experienced by minority female staff, stressing the vital role the group will play in reinforcing fairness, inclusion, and wider public trust across West Yorkshire communities.
Attendees also heard from Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, the Head of Professional Standards at West Yorkshire Police and one of the most senior Black female officers in UK policing outside of London.
Sharing deep insights from her own journey through the ranks, DCS Wilkins paid tribute to the pioneering Black women who inspired her career, pledging her full devotion to mentoring and championing the next generation of talent coming through the force.
Providing the keynote address for the afternoon, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, delivered an engaging overview of her personal and professional journey. Focusing heavily on how she broke down historical barriers to find a voice for herself and others in public life, the Deputy Mayor championed the launch of the working group and pledged her formal support for its long-term growth and influence.
The launch concluded with a live panel discussion featuring women of colour from a wide variety of operational and civilian policing roles, followed by an interactive roundtable workshop.
Feedback and focus areas identified during the workshop will be used immediately to form the baseline of WOCIP’s official local action plan.