Former West Midlands police officer Rebecca Kalam of the United Kingdom has won a landmark case against gender discrimination, winning a reported total of £820,720 for loss of earnings and pension in what is believed to be one of the largest payouts of its kind in the country.
Former female police officer Rebecca Kalam accused West Midlands Police of gender discrimination during training in 2012, mistreatment by male officers, and failure to provide personal protective equipment.
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Rebecca said that she fought the case not for the money but for the changes that she wanted to see, such as the provision of women-friendly protective gear for the police.
Rebecca Kalam was made the poster girl for the force’s firearms unit in 2012 and said she could not pass the training course unless she agreed, an employment tribunal heard.
She was also required to pose for a photo shoot when she was five months pregnant in 2016 and complained of male officers drawing images of genitals on notice boards around the police station along with using misogynistic language.
The tribunal heard that during training exercises in March 2012, Mrs Kalam had to strip down to her underwear and, while doing press-ups, a male trainer put his foot on the back of her neck, reports Sky News.
After the verdict was announced, West Midlands police released a statement that condemned the previous treatment and offered assurances that changes are being made. “All female firearms officers have been issued with equipment specific to their individual needs, including formed ballistic protection.We have also introduced new arrangements to procure female-specific uniforms and equipment, and female firearms officers are now involved in trialling and assessing new uniforms and equipment,” the statement read.
