The first female officers appeared at the turn of the 20th century. Originally a rare sight, today female officers can be encountered in almost every branch of almost every law enforcement agency around the world, and are just as competent as their male colleagues.
© AP Photo / Hasan JamaliA Bahraini policewoman adjusts a colleague's hat outside a courthouse in Manama, Bahrain.
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© AP Photo / Hasan Jamali
A Bahraini policewoman adjusts a colleague's hat outside a courthouse in Manama, Bahrain.
© AP Photo / Xinhua, Zhou GuoqiangIn this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, policewomen engage in an exercise held in Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province.
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© AP Photo / Xinhua, Zhou Guoqiang
In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, policewomen engage in an exercise held in Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province.
© AP Photo / Amr Nabil, FileEgyptian policewomen chat during a graduation ceremony at the Police Academy in Cairo, Egypt.
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© AP Photo / Amr Nabil, File
Egyptian policewomen chat during a graduation ceremony at the Police Academy in Cairo, Egypt.
© East News / AP Photo/Wason WanichakornThai policewomen march while guarding the Command Management for Peace and Order (CMPO) in Bangkok, Thailand. February 21, 2014
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© East News / AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn
Thai policewomen march while guarding the Command Management for Peace and Order (CMPO) in Bangkok, Thailand. February 21, 2014
© East News / AP Photo/Mukhtar KhanJammu and Kashmir policewomen participate in a parade to mark Police Commemoration Day on the outskirts of Srinagar, India. October 21, 2014.
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© East News / AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan
Jammu and Kashmir policewomen participate in a parade to mark Police Commemoration Day on the outskirts of Srinagar, India. October 21, 2014.
© AP Photo / Ariel SchalitIsraeli military policewomen wait for a display of rockets seized from the Panama-flagged KLOS C civilian cargo ship, which was intercepted off the coast of Sudan. Eilat, March 10, 2014.
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© AP Photo / Ariel Schalit
Israeli military policewomen wait for a display of rockets seized from the Panama-flagged KLOS C civilian cargo ship, which was intercepted off the coast of Sudan. Eilat, March 10, 2014.
© East News / Gavin John/Transterra Media/PolarisNorth Korea: A traffic policewoman directs cars. Despite popular rumors that there is not enough electricity for traffic lights in Pyongyang, the traffic police are there to assist in addition to the traffic lights. However, in more rural towns and cities, the police have a more active role in directing the flow of traffic.
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© East News / Gavin John/Transterra Media/Polaris
North Korea: A traffic policewoman directs cars. Despite popular rumors that there is not enough electricity for traffic lights in Pyongyang, the traffic police are there to assist in addition to the traffic lights. However, in more rural towns and cities, the police have a more active role in directing the flow of traffic.
© East NewsA young Polish policewoman.
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© East News
A young Polish policewoman.
© East News / AP Photo/Hussein MallaLebanese policewomen stand guard at the entrance to the office of Anadolu, a Turkish news agency.
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© East News / AP Photo/Hussein Malla
Lebanese policewomen stand guard at the entrance to the office of Anadolu, a Turkish news agency.
© Sputnik / Alexei Danichev / Go to the mediabankThe Victory Day Parade at Palace Square, St. Petersburg.
The Victory Day Parade at Palace Square, St. Petersburg.