Police officer spouses and jobs

[AliceInNorthumberland]

Was it ever the case that the wives of English police officers couldn't have jobs because they were expected to look after their "very important" police officer husbands?? And if so, when did this stop being the case?

The marriage bar stopped many women from having jobs in England after being married. Not sure if it ever applied specifically to police officers though…

Well both myself and my mum were police wives - my mum was a wife from 1961 and both of us always had jobs.

My uncles both joined in the early fifties their wives worked

I was a police officer and I’ve never heard this said anywhere. I would say it is probably difficult to have a family and manage childcare around an officers shifts which can be erratic and extended but not for the reason you’ve stated.

My dad was a police officer from 1957 to 1982 and my mum always worked - well as far back as I can remember anyway, she probably had a bit of time off when my brothers and I were babies.

Interesting, thank you all! I tried googling and couldnt find anything, I'll look up the marriage bar now though @TheGreatWesternShrew