Police officer to talk breastfeeding in Parliament

Sgt Kat Scrimshaw breastfeeding in uniform

A police officer who created a network to support breastfeeding mothers has been invited to Parliament to talk about her work.

West Mercia Police sergeant Kat Scrimshaw, from Whitchurch, Shropshire, founded the National Police Breastfeeding Network in 2021.

After her maternity leave, Sgt Scrimshaw felt there was a lack of support, equipment, and understanding about breastfeeding and motherhood.

"You've got all these extra thoughts going on in your mind before you even step through that door to start work," she said.

Kat Scrimshaw: "It's really embarrassing, if nobody understands that, you feel completely alone."

She said colleagues and managers did not understand her needs as a new mum.

"The milk has built up in your boobs, your boobs have got really heavy, you've been on a crime scene for 6 hours, you’re starting to leak in your uniform."

"It's really embarrassing, if nobody understands that, you feel completely alone," she told BBC Radio Shropshire.

After reaching out to women in other forces, she realised something needed to be done.

"To my horror, I received a whole load of SOS messages, from women across all across the UK and beyond," she said.

West Mercia Police helped Sgt Scrimshaw set up the breastfeeding network, which has since trained 382 "breast buddies" across the nation to support colleagues.

It also includes a Facebook group for discussions and advice.

'Absolutely made a difference'

Forty-four forces signed up to the network, including those in the Falklands, British Virgin Islands, and Scotland.

Many stations added specific rooms and fridges for breastfeeding, and a new HR policy was created for pregnant women and mothers.

Sgt Scrimshaw was invited to Parliament later in 2024, to discuss national breastfeeding policies and showcase the work of the network.

"The law needs to be really clear, it needs to be really supportive," she said.

"There are so many different benefits to letting your employees breastfeed.

"Things are improving, things are coming, we are making a lot of noise," she said.