'Few' women officers on bike duty

Only one in 30 motorcycle police officers are women

"Macho myths" prevent women police officers from choosing the specialist career as a motorcycle officer, the Metropolitan Police has said.

There are about 2,000 motorcycle officers in the force but only one out of 30 are women officers.

To encourage more women officers to join its motorcycle force the Met held a special training day for women.

Officers got a chance to ride the force's top-of-the-range BMW fleet and try out specialist manoeuvres.

'Have a go'

Ch Insp Don Smith, who heads the Met's Driver Training School in Hendon, north London, said: "Historically, the number of female motorcyclists in the Met has been low.

"Today is about redressing that balance and dispelling the macho myths."

Sergeant Eugenie Brooks from Royalty Protection, who has been a motorcycle officer since 1990, said: "I got the idea for a 'Ladies Day' when I was working in Traffic Division and was approached by a new female officer about how to get into the specialism."

"The day is aimed at getting more women into this area and encourage them to simply 'have a go' in a safe and stress free environment," she added.

Motorcycle police officers work in varied roles including Royalty and Diplomatic Protection, Surveillance and Traffic Patrol.