Women were not allowed to do public order training until the late 1980s.

During the miners’ strikes of 1984-1985, women pretty much ran the police stations across the West Midlands on 12 hour shifts, whilst male officers went on mutual aid to support the local forces.​

The Operational Support Unit is the force’s strategic reserve for major and serious incidents. They include advanced public order trained officers, specialist search officers and officers trained in safe entry to buildings. They also carry out underwater searching, recovery of victims, working at heights and chemical/biological incidents. ​

The first woman ever posted to the OSU in the West Midlands was PC Kerry Delaney in 1990 – in a department of 140 men! ​

Public order overalls (also known as a boiler suit) are a type of protective clothing worn by police officers during public order situations such as riots and protests. Whilst practical for safety reasons, this clothing can be very unpractical for female officers with issues around sizing and difficulties in having to remove multiple layers before they can go to the toilet.​