A TOP East Lancashire police officer has been selected to attend the Women of the Year Lunch.

Chief Superintendent Irene Curtis, from the Ribble Valley, is also president of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales The celebration will take place today at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel.

Ch Supt Curtis is attending in celebration of her work leading the association that represents more than 1,200 senior operational leaders in policing.

She said: “It is a real privilege to be counted alongside so many talented and inspiring women and to have the chance to learn from each other.

“The police service has been successful in recent years in getting more women to choose policing as a career, but representation of women in superintending ranks remains low.

“I hope that by continuing to working hard to make a difference, and by demonstrating how rewarding a leadership role can be, I can inspire others to strive for leadership roles as well.”