WILTSHIRE Police has more female staff and officers than men for the first time in its 190 year history.

The force's Gender Pay Gap report for 2020, which shows a snapshot taken on March 31 last year, revealed that there were 1,140 female officers and staff compared to 1,101 male officers and staff members. A majority of officers were men - 656 compared to 380 women. 

However, there remained a significant difference between the amount earned by men and women at Wiltshire Police. The median gender pay gap fell by 1.9 per cent from 10.96 per cent in 2019 to 9.09 per cent in 2020. The median pay gap is calculated by ranking salaries and comparing those in the middle of the table.

There was little change in the average gender pay gap, which fell only slightly from 9.73 per cent in 2019 to 9.59 per cent in 2020.

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “We are really beginning to see the results of hard work put in to ensure we are meeting our commitment to an even gender balance in the force and attracting more females to senior roles in the organisation, both as officers and staff.

“The force has recorded more females in officer and staff roles for the first time and we have seen a 10 per cent increase, year-on-year, in females becoming officers. We also have increasing numbers of females applying for promotion and being successful.

“This is really important progress and one I am committed to building upon in the future.”

The force paid the same salary to men and women at every grade. A pay gap can be created where there are more men or women employed at higher grades.