Longest serving female officer retires after 42 years

ESSEX Police’s longest-serving female constable is finally hanging up her boots after 42 years and four months.

PC Stephanie Hoskins joined the force in 1973 at the age of 19, beginning her career as a bobby on the beat at Grays Police Station, and retired earlier this month from her most recent post as a driver trainer.

She has seen many “firsts” throughout her career: she was the first person to model trousers for female officers in Essex and one of the first officers to patrol the M25 when it first opened.

Last year, she became one of the longest serving female police constables in England and Wales.

“A lot has changed over the 42 years that I have been with Essex Police,” says PC Hoskins. “In the 70s, there was quite a prehistoric attitude towards women in policing and it was hard for me to prove my salt as an equal member of staff. I’m glad to say we’ve come a very long way since then and women are now seen as equal and integral members of the police force.”

PC Hoskins (pictured on her firs and last days at work) recalls having to be crewed with two male officers in the early days, as men did not want to have just one female officer as back up – and instead of handcuffs, women were given a handbag with a small truncheon inside.

After pestering her chief inspector to put her forward for an advanced driving course, she was eventually given a place in July 1977 and came top of her course, beating all the men.

Having also completed a VIP training course with the Traffic Unit, PC Hoskins became a familiar face to members of the royal family visiting Essex, once escorting Queen Elizabeth to open the QEII Bridge.

PC Hoskins will continue putting her driving skills to good use, returning to the force as a civilian driver trainer, and says she will take away many fond memories of her time as a PC.

“The best part for me has been being able to stay on for so long, I didn’t feel ready to leave my job,” says PC Hoskins. “My favourite part was being able to do the good old fashioned ‘coppering’, I have missed that as times have got more technological.”