Alison Halford
Encyclopedia
Alison Monica Halford is a former senior police
officer who became a politician. She was Labour member of the National Assembly for Wales
, representing the Delyn
constituency, between 1999 and 2003. In 2006 she transferred allegiance to the Conservative Party
and as of 2007 advises the Conservatives on home affairs.
Halford was born in Norwich
. She attended a Roman Catholic grammar school
and served for three years in the Women's Royal Air Force
, before moving to London
to train as a dental hygienist
. She was not happy in her new job, however, and in 1962 joined the Metropolitan Police
.
She rose rapidly in the police. She became a Detective
Constable
soon after completing her probation, joined a fast track promotion scheme, and was promoted to Inspector
in 1967. She reached the rank of Chief Superintendent
in the Metropolitan Police, and was the first woman in the country to command a police division
, taking command of Tottenham Court Road
police station.
In 1983, she became Assistant Chief Constable
of Merseyside Police
, the first woman to hold that rank in British police history and the first woman outside the Metropolitan Police to hold Chief Officer rank. She claimed to have faced sexual discrimination in her new post, however, and did not get on well with Chief Constable
Kenneth Oxford
. Despite repeated attempts she failed to win further promotion, after which she brought a sexual discrimination claim. The claim was withdrawn following a settlement between the two parties. She retired in 1992.
Halford then wrote a book about her experiences, entitled No Way Up the Greasy Pole.
In 1997, she alleged that her telephones had been tapped, resulting in her winning a case at the European Court of Human Rights
against the Home Secretary
.
On 10 April 2006 she announced that she was joining the Conservatives
, having grown increasingly disillusioned with the Labour Party. She especially cited the appointment of Peter Mandelson
as a European Commissioner
. She is currently advising the Conservative Party and the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales on home affairs.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4895594.stm
Alison Halford launched her book 'Leeks from the Backbenches' at the Welsh Assembly on 6 November 2007.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer who became a politician. She was Labour member of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
, representing the Delyn
Delyn (UK Parliament constituency)
Delyn is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, first used in the 1983 General Election. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
constituency, between 1999 and 2003. In 2006 she transferred allegiance to the Conservative Party
Welsh Conservative Party
The Welsh Conservatives & Unionists , informally the Welsh Conservatives or Welsh Tories, are the part of the Conservative Party which operates in Wales...
and as of 2007 advises the Conservatives on home affairs.
Halford was born in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. She attended a Roman Catholic grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
and served for three years in the Women's Royal Air Force
Women's Royal Air Force
The Women's Royal Air Force was a women's branch of the Royal Air Force which existed in two separate incarnations.The first WRAF was an auxiliary organization of the Royal Air Force which was founded in 1918. The original intent of the WRAF was to provide female mechanics in order to free up men...
, before moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to train as a dental hygienist
Dental hygienist
thumb|right|300px|Dental hygienist holding a scalerA dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the scope of practice of dental hygienists...
. She was not happy in her new job, however, and in 1962 joined the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
.
She rose rapidly in the police. She became a Detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
soon after completing her probation, joined a fast track promotion scheme, and was promoted to Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
in 1967. She reached the rank of Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
in the Metropolitan Police, and was the first woman in the country to command a police division
Police division
A division was the usual term for the largest territorial subdivision of most British police forces. In major reforms of police organisation in the 1990s divisions of many forces were restructured and retitled Basic Command Units , although some forces continue to refer to them as divisions.The...
, taking command of Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road is a major road in central London, United Kingdom, running from St Giles Circus north to Euston Road, near the border of the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile...
police station.
In 1983, she became Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
of Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
, the first woman to hold that rank in British police history and the first woman outside the Metropolitan Police to hold Chief Officer rank. She claimed to have faced sexual discrimination in her new post, however, and did not get on well with Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
Kenneth Oxford
Kenneth Oxford
Sir Kenneth Gordon Oxford CBE, QPM was a senior British police officer and chief constable of Merseyside Police from 1976 to 1989.-Early life:...
. Despite repeated attempts she failed to win further promotion, after which she brought a sexual discrimination claim. The claim was withdrawn following a settlement between the two parties. She retired in 1992.
Halford then wrote a book about her experiences, entitled No Way Up the Greasy Pole.
In 1997, she alleged that her telephones had been tapped, resulting in her winning a case at the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
against the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
.
On 10 April 2006 she announced that she was joining the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, having grown increasingly disillusioned with the Labour Party. She especially cited the appointment of Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
as a European Commissioner
European Commissioner
A European Commissioner is a member of the 27-member European Commission. Each Member within the college holds a specific portfolio and are led by the President of the European Commission...
. She is currently advising the Conservative Party and the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales on home affairs.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4895594.stm
Alison Halford launched her book 'Leeks from the Backbenches' at the Welsh Assembly on 6 November 2007.