Tayside Police Officers c. 1960 Copyright © Tayside Police Archives, 2008 Select A Story... Agnes Husband Mariote Ker An Anonymous Maidservant Frances Wright Margaret Fenwick Alice Moorhead and Emily Thomson Mary Ann Baxter Williamina Fleming Lila Clunas Margaret Fairlie Rebecca Strong Jean Thomson Mary Alcock Victoria Drummond Katharine Read Florence Horsbrugh Mary Lily Walker Mary Brooksbank Mary Slessor Mary Buick (or Buik) Bella Keyzer Ethel Moorhead Grissell Jaffray Janet Keiller Emma Caird Jean Thomson | Footstep 12 | 1881 - 1940+ Born in 1881, the daughter of the minister of Lochee Parish Church, Jean is thought to be Scotland's first police woman. Some people had wanted female police to protect women and some had wanted them to control women. Eventually, the disruption to family life brought about by World War 1 triggered action and, in 1915, welfare-oriented Volunteer Women's Patrols were established in Dundee. At the end of the war in 1918, Jean was appointed as a 'police sister', working four hours a day. In fact, she worked full time - patrolling, interviewing and escorting women and girls and writing reports. She visited pubs, too - but always with a male officer. In 1922, the Chief Constable was to deny he had ever had a policewoman on his strength - we're pleased to record that the current Chief Constable is delighted to have Jean's memorial plaque sited at the Marketgait entrance to the Tayside Police HQ. Previous Story  |  Next Story
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