Jane felt increasingly anxious as she waited, clutching her hands together as she went over the answers she had prepared. Twenty minutes later, the man came out with a beaming grin and, holding his thumbs up, told Jane he’d passed and she was to go in.
Sitting behind a desk was a female Chief Inspector who smiled at her, and a male Chief Superintendent, wearing half-moon glasses, who frowned and pointed to a chair.
The Chief Inspector opened the questioning by asking Jane about her family background, education and the reason she wanted to join the police. Jane felt more at ease with the Chief Inspector, while the Superintendent glared at her over the top of his glasses. She explained how she had read the article in the paper about the integration of the Women’s Branch and knew then that the Police Force would be a worthwhile career that she really wanted to pursue.
The Chief Superintendent took off his glasses, placed them on the table and leaned back in his chair.
‘You see it as a career, do you?’
‘Yes, sir, and I feel I am up to the challenge.’
‘So you don’t have any intention of getting married and having children… as most women seem to do after a few years in the force?’
‘Well, not at the moment, sir, and I’m not in a relationship with anyone.’
‘Not a lesbian, are you?’ he asked with a sneer.
‘No,’ Jane replied, trying not to sound offended yet feeling under pressure.
The Chief Inspector took over. ‘So you work for your father as a secretary. Do you have much experience of dealing with people?’
‘I look after his clients who visit the office and… ’
‘Very challenging,’ the Superintendent interrupted in a sarcastic tone.
Jane wasn’t sure if he was being deliberately rude to test her mettle or if he just disliked the idea of women being in the police force. She looked at the Chief Inspector who gave a discreet nod, as if encouraging her to speak up for herself. Jane’s mouth was dry so she licked her lips lightly before continuing.
‘As a school prefect I had to uphold the rules and ensure that everyone did the same. I like to think that I helped maintain the smooth running of the school and set a good example to the other pupils in terms of attitude and behaviour.’
The Superintendent sneered. ‘Well, that should help when you’re dealing with a six foot two verbally abusive drunk who’s just committed an indecent assault and will knock your block off to get away.’
‘Personally I feel that would depend on how you deal with him, sir. An unaggressive approach might help to ease and calm the situation, and I’m sure the majority of male officers would call for back-up when faced with a six foot two drunk.’
The Superintendent was about to make a comment when the Chief Inspector interrupted.
‘That was an excellent answer, Miss Tennison, and I have to say that overall I am very impressed with your interview manner. You clearly did some homework before coming here today. I think you are suitable to become a Constable in the Metropolitan Police force… Don’t you?’ She smiled as she turned to her colleague.
‘If you say so, but time will tell,’ he replied.
Instead of going straight home to tell her mother, an ecstatic Jane went to her father’s office first to share her good news. He gave her a big hug and, rather than let Jane face her mother alone, he drove her home. Unable to hold back the tears, Mrs Tennison congratulated her daughter. Jane knew they were tears of sadness and sensed that her father had already primed her not to criticise or challenge Jane’s decision. Even Pamela was positive when she heard the news, and once again she asked to have her sister’s room.
The first Monday in September was the day that Jane started in ‘The Met’. Her father drove her to Peto House, where she left her suitcase. She was allocated a small shared room with two single beds; down the hall was a communal washroom. Jane then went by bus with five other women to New Scotland Yard to be sworn in as a police constable. On arrival they were taken to a large conference room where nearly fifty male recruits were waiting.
Taking the oath was a moment in her life that she would never forget…
‘I Jane Tennison do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve Our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the office of constable, without favour or affection, malice or ill will; and that I will to the best of my power cause the peace to be kept and preserved, and prevent all offences against the persons and properties of Her Majesty’s subjects; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law.’
