HIGH-POWERED women are at the helm of one of the biggest police forces in Britain, steering it confidently into the 20th century.

The leader of the Lancashire force is none other than Pauline Clare, who was thrust into the media spotlight when she became the first woman to be promoted to Chief Constable.

But there are other women in equally hard-earned positions in the force, some of whom have also made history. They haven't made the headlines, despite their exceptional achievements in a predominantly male environment. They are breaking new ground and some have defied tradition to bring about some of the most radical reforms ever seen. Two such women, who have dealt with situations such as shootings, murders and car accidents and have come out on top, are among the highest-ranking women in the force. Karen Hives is Lancashire's only woman superintendent and Wendy Walker is the force's only woman chief inspector. Another woman, Inspector Sue Bramwell, is the first female to become a firearms officer and crime prevention officer. All have served in East Lancashire during their careers.

"There have been a lot of changes over the last 20 years," said Sue.

"For years women in the force have suffered the problems that many minority groups suffer. Some people still have problems accepting that women can do the job just as well as the men but these sorts are few and far between now."

There are 2,736 male officers and 476 female officers in Lancashire but greater numbers of women are being recruited. Karen, who lives in Leyland with her husband Chris, a former police officer, and their two children Adam, eight, and Victoria, two, said: "Women in the police force are not pioneers any more. The numbers of women are increasing. Before it was difficult to run a family and stay in the job but working mothers are common now but it does take a lot of understanding and help from husbands and family members."

She joined the force as a graduate entrant in 1978, which seemed a natural choice for her as all her family were working in public service jobs.

She was a police officer in Preston before passing exams and undergoing training which promoted her to sergeant and later inspector, when she worked for some time in Blackburn as the only woman shift inspector.

She worked in a number of non-operational departments before and after the birth of her children. She was promoted to chief inspector working at headquarters as an equal opportunities officer and was responsible for formulating the force policy on this issue. She rose to the rank of superintendent and was put in command of the Criminal Justice Support Department, which employs over 200 police officers and civilians.

She said: "I like to think that the fact that I'm a woman comes second to the job, which requires writing reports for all levels and decision-making skills, which are not typically feminine roles."

Sue Bramwell, who lives in Anderton, near Preston, with computer engineer husband Chris and son Graham, eight, said: "It takes real commitment to show you can do it - especially if you are the first female undertaking a job.."

Clitheroe-born Wendy Walker became the first-ever woman detective inspector in Lancashire at 32. She began on the beat in Blackpool, went behind a desk in computer development and later moved to Preston as a sergeant. Afterwards she did a spell in traffic and then went on to CID. She is now Lancashire's sole woman chief inspector in the personnel department at Hutton. Sue Bramwell started in Leyland before becoming one of only two women in the drug squad in Skelmersdale, often going undercover and investigating international drugs offences.

She worked in Chorley with physically and sexually-abused children and young people and was later promoted to sergeant, becoming the first crime prevention officer in the force.

She won a Travel Fellowship to Canada to learn about domestic violence and she returned to write force policy on the subject. Promoted to uniformed patrol inspector, she then moved on to the criminal justice department in Blackburn and spent 12 months at Hutton on research and development.

She said: "You need to put in a lot of hard work and determination and refuse to be knocked back. You must have a positive attitude and want to get to the top for the right reasons. Not because you are a woman but because you are the best person for the job."

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