Seal of approval for PC retiring after 55 years

Win Almond and Moose the seal were reunited for a photo opportunity after the unusual aquatic incident

Win Almond has dedicated more than half a century to policing, and at 74 has decided to hang up her hat. Despite being involved in the searches for the Yorkshire Ripper and double police killer Barry Prudom, she admits a memorable run-in with a marine mammal is the case that may linger the longest.

"The flaming thing reared up on its rear flippers, put its front flippers on the gate and sank its teeth into my arm," she recalls.

Forever known as "the seal incident", Win says she looks back on the event with wry amusement 45 years later.

The young officer was on patrol in Filey when Win's radio alerted her to an unwanted visitor in the boating lake at Scarborough's Peasholm Park.

The plucky pinniped called Moose had escaped from the nearby Scarborough Marineland and was enjoying a spontaneous dip amongst the ducks.

"I attended along with another officer from Scarborough and arrived at the scene first," she recalls.

"I thought, what do I do now?"

Spotting a dog walker nearby, Win borrowed a lead, fashioned a loop and managed to wrangle it around the seal's neck as it left the water - but gained a sharp bite in return.

"Fortunately I had several layers on - it didn't cause a nasty wound but it broke the skin," she says.

Her seal capture at the lake of Scarborough's Peasholme Park made the national news

Thankfully her injuries were minor, and she successfully handed Moose back over to Marineland and finished the remainder of her shift after a tetanus jab.

Win started her policing career at the York and North East Yorkshire Constabulary - as it was then known - in 1970, joining the "women's department" and training at Newby Wiske Hall in Northallerton.

Reflecting on her 55 years with police and the most significant changes, she says: "There's nothing that women can't do.

"They're in traffic, criminal investigation department, firearms, they hold senior posts in the police."

Win applied to join the traffic department after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975

She continues: "We've had our own couple of women Chief Constables - Della Cannings was the first, and Lisa Winward was the one before [current Chief Constable] Tim Forber.

"They've done very well and deserve all credit to them."

Win applied to join the traffic department after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

The move made it illegal for employers to discriminate based on sex or marital status and prohibited job advertisements that offered positions exclusively to men or to women.

Despite the new legislation, Win was told she could only join if another woman applied.

Knowing just the person for the job, she phoned her friend Pat, who was working within a different part of the force.

Before they knew it, they'd both joined Scarborough's traffic team as the first women in the department.

Win also had to change her collar number as there was a man on the team with the same one.

Win, pictured with North Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable Tim Forber, joined the York and North East Yorkshire Constabulary in 1970

Discussing her career as an officer, she says: "I can't think of any bad bits of the job, other than the fatal collisions and the death of a child.

"I tried to deal with them in the best way possible for the families, and for myself."

After retiring as an officer with 32 years' service, Win returned as a customer services officer at Scarborough police station and left the force on 30 September.

Despite all her successes, it will be her 1980 seal encounter - which gained national press coverage at the time - she is reminded of.

"A lot of people that know me will always bring that one up," she concludes.

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