Lancashire Police are the first force in the country to have 50 per cent male and 50 per cent female recruits. We spoke to one woman police officer who has risen through the ranks to beat the boys.

A LOT has changed in the police force over the last 30 years.

Not so long ago female officers were required to serve in the Women's Police Department, which dealt only with child and family-related incidents.

Wouldn't want to give them anything too challenging for their pretty little heads now would we?

But thankfully times are changing and this year Lancashire Police became the first force in the UK to take on exactly the same number of men and women as new recruits.

Detective Inspector Jill Johnston has been an officer for 11 years and has risen quickly through the ranks.

When she signed up as a beat officer in 1997, at the age of 25, the force was still male-dominated.

"I think the TV show Life on Mars was actually quite realistic of what the police was like in the 70s and early 80s," said Det Insp Johnston.

"The police force is a very disciplined organisation and we deal with serious incidents on a day-to-day basis so it's not a job for everybody and historically women weren't encouraged to join.

"When I joined in 1997 it wasn't like that - women were better represented, but not in high ranks and not in specialist departments. A woman DI was still unheard of."

But progress has been rapid in recent years.

In 2008 Lancashire Police recorded an all-time high of women in the force and is the first in the country to have had an annual intake of exactly half men and women recruits.

"I think as time has gone on we have recognised as an establishment that women teamed with men provide a better quality and effective service because both have different skills to offer," said Det Insp Johnston.

"I have often been able to calm a violent situation with communication skills rather than having to use force, which is a strength of a woman rather than a man.

"Women also tend to use emotional intelligence more, which is important, especially as a manager.

"Women recognise the needs of staff and areas of development. Often they can be more approachable to discuss issues that may be affecting performance."

But there are still challenges for women police officers in 2008, said Det Insp Johnston.

"It can be a challenging job especially for women who have families or who want families," she said.

"We have made progress in that area already but there's still work to do.

"We now have breakfast meetings at 9.30am rather than 8.30am so women officers have time to drop their children off at school and we promote part-time and flexible working hours, which would have been frowned upon some years ago.

"There's a much better appreciation of having a work/life balance."

It's these little things that often make a big difference when it comes to levelling the playing field between men and women in the force.

More recent popular changes have included the introduction of two-piece boiler suits - to make it easier for women officers to use the loo while wearing the gear - and body armour shaped for a woman.

Det Insp Johnston says she loves her job.

"The best thing about my job is the variety," she said.

"I can't explain how exciting it is to come into work every day and do something different.

"I worked in banking until I was 25 and it was so stale and boring compared to this.

"For example, this morning there was a house fire with a lady still in the house.

"We don't know whether that fire was started deliberately.

"I came into work at 7.30am and was sent out to that.

"There's always something interesting and challenging to deal with."

It's not an easy job, though, and the application process can take up to 12 months.

"But I'd say to young women go for it. It's a really interesting career and you can have a great deal of variety in your day-to-day work."

And it's an especially exciting time to be a woman in Lancashire Police, added Det Insp Johnston, because of the female-friendly top team.