Using history to promote handbag safety

Earlier this month, Western Bay of Plenty police, in conjunction with Creative Tauranga Community Gallery and the Tauranga City Council, celebrated handbags and how to keep them safe, as well as focusing on how women can keep themselves safe.

Mount Maunganui Community Constable Rachel Walker says handbags have had a variety of uses in cultures and organisations, and these uses have changed over time.

Community Constable Rachel Walker models the handbag and gloves that were part of the women’s uniform. Photos: Constable Duncan Jeffery, Tauranga Central

“Although women first joined the New Zealand Police in 1941, they were not issued uniforms until 1952,” says Rachel. “Handbags, hats and gloves were then essential items. Now when women join the Police they are issued stab proof vests, pepper spray, asp batons and handcuffs.”

A timeline of women in Police was part of the display, showing how the uniform has changed over 50 years alongside the role of women in the department.

A breakfast launch for the exhibition was held, with guest speakers Anne Pankhurst from the Chamber of Commerce and Inspector Mike Clement, Area Commander Western Bay of Plenty. A public workshop discussing “keeping ourselves safe” in homes, workplaces and communities was then held in the evening at Creative Tauranga.

Along with Community Constable Leanne Fairbairn, Tauranga South, and Senior Sergeant Tania Kura, OC Mount Maunganui, currently seconded to the Tauranga City Council for six months, Rachel facilitated the workshop, showing a PowerPoint presentation with practical tips in different situations and environments, followed by a question and answer session. “The event provided a great opportunity for police to share information in the community,” says Rachel.