Police officer honoured for menopause policy campaign

A Cumbria Police inspector has received an award for her decade-long effort to bring menopause workplace policies into force.

Inspector Diane Bradbury was presented with the Women in Policing Award at the first Cumbria Police Federation Recognition Awards for her role in developing and implementing the force’s Menopause and Hormonal Change Policy and Procedure.

The policy, adopted this year, supports staff going through menopause – the natural end of menstruation that typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Bradbury began campaigning for it in 2016.

Insp Bradbury. said: “I didn’t give up.

“I started pushing for a policy in 2016.

“What has changed over the past decade is there’s been more awareness about menopause via the media and the Government, and then big-hitting businesses got on board with their own policies for people affected by menopause.

“So my argument became more evidenced in terms of what we needed to be doing to demonstrably support our staff.

“We had to gather up that evidence.

“The British Standards Institution (BSI)’s report on menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace gave me lots of evidence that I was able to put together to present to chief officers, as well as real-life examples of where people have been let down and why we needed a policy.

“It was years in the making, and I had to be very resilient to just keep seeing it through.

“We’re now on a much better footing as a menopause-friendly employer, which is a real achievement.

“I think we should be proud.”

As part of the work, Bradbury created a mandatory e-learning course for inspectors, featuring testimony from within the force.

Before joining Cumbria Police in 1998, she worked as a secondary school teacher. She said she changed careers after hearing pupils discussing committing criminal acts.

“I never expected it,” Bradbury said of the award.

“Nobody looks for recognition, but it’s nice that somebody thought about me.

“Although it’s not about me, it’s about the product.”

Ed Russell, chair of Cumbria Police Federation, said: “Di has been a strong advocate for women in policing for years, and is a worthy winner of this award.

“Her efforts have undoubtedly had a positive impact on women in Cumbria Police, and she continues to be a strong advocate for this cause.”