Police Scotland officers who draw attention to issues of misogyny and sexism in the force feel they have a "target" on their back and worry they will be labelled as a grass.
The new report also found a “boys’ club culture” exists in areas of the service where “the real team meetings happen on the golf course”. The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) paper said officers will often excuse sexist behaviour as "banter" and if colleague pulls them up on it, they are accused of not being able to take a joke and singled out by the team.
It comes after Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone last week stated that the force in Scotland “is institutionally racist and discriminatory”. The latest study analysed 528 responses to an anonymous online survey, with 81% of participants agreeing that sexism and misogyny is a problem on the service.
Conducted between August and October last year, the research also found that 86% of female colleagues said they have either been subjected to and/or witnessed sexism and misogyny. Respondents described “having a target on your back” when raising issues and grievances, being labelled a “trouble maker” and “red-marked” during their career.
Some expressed concerns about working conditions and a lack of support for flexible working plans and maternity and paternity leave. Others described being overlooked for promotion due to maternity and told they had forfeited their policing career by having families.
The paper, for the SPA People Committee, said: “For some colleagues, they have been made to feel that if they have children, they will no longer be able to do their job.”
The report said there have been particular improvements since the early 2000s but there are still areas that need improvement. It said: “Colleagues need to feel safe to call out behaviours and feel supported when they do. Leadership must be inclusive, visible and accountable across the service to inspire positive change.”
It said the force must “cultivate visible change to ensure that a zero-tolerance approach to sexism and misogyny is the reality”, adding: “This plays an essential part in fostering confidence in colleagues that if they raise an issue, this will be addressed in appropriate and supportive ways.”
Women who have worked in the police have previously spoken out about their experiences, and former armed response officer Rhona Malone last year won almost £1 million in compensation from the force after an employment tribunal ruled she was victimised while raising sexism concerns.
Last week, Sir Iain said institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination exist but the admission “absolutely does not mean” all officers and staff are racist, sexist or homophobic. He went on to say there is “no place” in Police Scotland for people who harbour prejudices and that the behaviour of colleagues who have been found to hold such views is “utterly condemned”.
It came as a separate report found “instances of ongoing discrimination against minoritised communities, including first-hand accounts of racism, sexism and homophobia” by serving officers. Commenting on the new report, Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond, lead on the delivery of action to tackle sexism and misogyny, said: “This was a crucial first step in understanding the extent of sexism and misogyny within our organisation.
“As the Chief Constable made clear, we know from independent reviews, court and conduct cases and from listening to our own officers and staff that people don’t always get the service or experience from Police Scotland that they need and deserve. The onus is on us to enable people to make to their voices heard and take action to address their concerns.
“Hearing these experiences has been difficult and, in some instances, shocking but absolutely necessary.
“Women told us about everyday sexism: the banter, the boys’ clubs, being overlooked for promotion, treated dismissively, regardless of experience, grade or rank, because you are a woman, of being told having children meant your career was over.
“Men also told us of witnessing sexism and misogyny, feeling disempowered and unable to step in but also about their own experiences of sexism.
“However, people also told us they were seeing progress and change. Women leading at every level in policing, proactive steps to recruit more women and better support for flexible working.
“We are committed to building on this, to continue to listen, to change and become an inclusive, anti-discriminatory organisation that reflects, and influences, the communities we serve.”
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