Women officers in Pacific battle gender inequality

A regional police women's network says women officers across the region continue to battle gender inequality within their jurisdictions.

Delegates from 21 Pacific countries have been discussing the challenges faced by women officers in the Pacific at a conference in Auckland.

The chairperson of the Pacific Islands Chief of Police Women's Advisory Network, Karen Henrikson, says in some parts of the region, women police officers aren't even allowed to drive.

"That's the difficult part of it. It's ingrained culture that they're up against as well as within the police service. So there's sort of the culture of the island or the country, and the culture of the police service on top of that. So, it's not easy. It's a lot of hard work. And it's really going to take these women here that are delegates to stand up and lead the change."

Inspector Henrikson says the organisation will continue to support positive change for police women across the region.