A conference room at Grantham Police Station has been dedicated to Britain’s first warranted police woman, Edith Smith.

Edith was born on 21st November 1876 near the centre of Oxton, Birkenhead, where she grew up, married and had four children. She became a midwife when her husband died, before joining the Woman’s Police Volunteers in 1914 when the war broke out. The Woman’s Police Volunteers eventually reformed as the Woman’s Police Service. 

Edith was eventually posted to the Grantham area to assist in the issues including drunkenness, the widespread use of cocaine, prostitution and the consequent spread of venereal disease. At the time of her posting, women officers were expected to carry out actual policing duties, with no powers of arrest and unlike the male officers they were not paid out of local rates. 

In December 1915, after a meeting was held to discuss the progress of the policewoman with Chief Constable Casburn, he signed Edith Smith’s warrant card and she received the power of arrest, becoming the first full WPC and her name moved into history. 

Assistant Chief Constable for Lincolnshire Police, Kerrin Wilson, said: “We are immensely proud that such an important figure in the history of policing served right here with us in Lincolnshire. This amazing woman was very much a trailblazer for all who came after her and her efforts very much paved the way for the female officers of today.

“We are absolutely honoured dedicate this room to Edith’s legacy which will ensure that she is now rightly remembered for generations to come.”

Grantham’s Chief Inspector Phil Vickers, who also attended the ceremony, said: “Edith was a pioneer in Policing, and we are immensely proud that she served the people of Grantham as the first woman in Britain with warranted Power of Arrest.

“Edith is already recognised by the local community with a Blue Plaque in the centre of Grantham and it is important that as Officers we remember her contribution, her resilience and commitment as part of modern day policing in Lincolnshire.

“A framed photo of Edith is hung in Reception at our Force Headquarters Nettleham, and to now have a room dedicated to her, in the community she served, is a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman.”

Dee Collins, who is Chief Constable at West Yorkshire Police, NPCC Gender lead and President of the British Association of Women in Policing, had the honour of dedicating the room and said: “It is a great honour to dedicate this room to a remarkable woman who has changed the history of policing for women.”

Courtney Finn, Chairman of the Grantham Civic Society also attended the ceremony.

Mr Finn, who has created a booklet on Edith Smith’s life, said: “This unique lady, described as a woman of outstanding personality, fearless, motherly and adaptable, deserves recognition. I am proud and honoured to have been invited to this dedication ceremony and for Edith’s legacy to live on.”