A policewoman recruited for duty at a munitions works trying on new boots. (Photo by A. R. Coster/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 30th January 1917

Chinese policewomen marching through a Beijing street. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). 23rd November 1938

Two policewomen and a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurse serve refreshments to the young evacuees before their departure from London to the comparative safety of the countryside during World War II. (Photo by A. J. O'Brien/Fox Photos/Getty Images). 18th June 1940

Mrs. Russell of the Womans Auxiliary Police Corps in Preston maintains that a police uniform does not mean that the wearer should be drab or dull. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). Circa 1940

The Womans Auxiliary Police Corps in Preston working to keep a police car on the road. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). Circa 1940

Newly recruited patrolman Eugene Davis dressed as a woman. He is working as part of the police force's campaign to crack down on kerb-crawlers who molest lone women in Nutley, New Jersey, and gets “picked up” before making his surprise arrest. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). 23rd May 1945

A German policewoman on traffic duty in Weimar, in the Soviet-occupied zone of Thuringia. She is one of 25 female officers in the city. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images). 2nd April 1946

New York policeman Lance Taylor of the Bronx receives directions from two London policewomen. He is on leave in London to play in “Anna Luasta” at the Prince of Wales Theatre. (Photo by Terry Fincher/Keystone/Getty Images). 31st March 1953

Tokyo policewoman Haruko Tanaka of the Asakusa ward aims her gun during shooting practice. (Photo by Evans/Three Lions/Getty Images). Circa 1955

US Army military policewoman directing traffic. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). Circa 1955

A supporter at a sit-down ban-the-bomb demonstration is arrested in Parliament Square by the police and carried away. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). 1962

Greek-Cypriot policewomen in Cyprus receive arms training during the troubles there. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images). 29th February 1964

A female police instuctor demonstrates self defence techniques in a fake knife attack in front of a class of policemen in New York. (Photo by Susan Schiff Faludi/Getty Images). 1965

27 year old Police Constable Margaret Raymond of Worthing demonstrating the new City of London Police walkie-talkie radios. She is the only woman on patrol with a special 100-strong patrol group operating in crime trouble spots in London. (Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images). 17th May 1965

Policemen and women hold back excited young Beatles fans outside the London Pavilion in Piccadilly where the premiere of the new Beatles film “Help!” is taking place. (Photo by Wesley/Keystone/Getty Images). 29th July 1965

English pop singer Cill Black in posing with some policemen in New York. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images). 4th August 1965

A smiling traffic warden. (Photo by Jones/Evening Standard/Getty Images). 5th September 1972

A young policeman joins in the fun at Notting Hill Carnival and gets a smacker of a kiss from an enthusiastic reveller. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images). 29th August 1979