Saturday 21st July 2001

Transsexual Nicola for changed police force

Mark Branagan

A MIDDLE-aged male police sergeant is to become Yorkshire’s first woman transsexual officer — in a force once berated for its sexism and “canteen culture”.

After 26 years as one of the lads in North Yorkshire Police, Sgt “Nicola” Lamb appeared back on duty on Monday in women’s clothing as part of a year-long preparation for sex change surgery.

Colleagues, who had been been briefed on the 49-year-old officer’s decision while he was on two weeks’ leave, were said by senior officers yesterday to have been very supportive.

It was also revealed that Sgt Lamb will soon not be the only serving transsexual in the county. A 34-year-old Scot, who changed from male to female before joining, is in training as a probationary beat officer.

For much of the 1990s North Yorkshire Police was under a cloud over allegations of sexism, bullying and bizarre initiation rituals stemming largely from the treatment of former Det Con Libby Ashurst at Harrogate police station.

Attention was drawn to the fact that North Yorkshire and Essex Police were the only two forces employing transsexuals during a recent tribunal appeal involving West Yorkshire Police.

The force was asking for a legal ruling on whether a transsexual woman in her 30s, known only as A, who has been trying for five years to join its ranks, was legally still a man.

Yesterday Chief Constable David Kenworthy admitted that while he had been forced to go public about Sgt Lamb’s “transition” because of an impending story by a Sunday tabloid he welcomed it as a sign of the great strides made.

He added: “North Yorkshire Police over the last few years has suffered enormous criticism for its attitudes for allegations of sexist behaviour.

“What I think today shows is that the force has made a tremendous change. Attitudes have changed through the hard work of our officers… in the way we view diversity within the force. We celebrate diversity in North Yorkshire Police.”

Sgt Lamb, a former beat officer at Knaresborough and training sergeant at a training school, has been working on various information technology projects for 10 years.

Although formerly married he has been wrestling with his sexuality since he was a teenager. He divorced his wife within the last six months after telling her about his gender preferences.

Yesterday the blonde-haired and bespectacled sergeant appeared at a news conference in a knee-high skirt, blouse, jewellery, tights and high heels, smiling and looking relaxed.

His work at the force headquarters near Northallerton as part of the Airwaves team developing the new police radio system means he is unlikely to return to front-line policing before retirement, unlike the younger transsexual.

But Mr Kenworthy insisted that gender was not an issue in public confidence, adding: “Most members of the public accept a police officer is a police officer.”

It has been decided Sgt Lamb — the force refuses to reveal his male Christian name or whether he has any children — will wear civilian clothing while colleagues get used to the idea of him being Nicola.

He will then wear a female officer’s uniform — but because trousers are issued to both genders the only difference will be a cravat instead of a tie.

mark.branagan@ypn.co.uk

Copyright © 2001 Yorkshire Post Newspapers