Edith Smith was a pioneering police officer who served in Grantham, Lincolnshire, from 1915 to 1918. She was the first woman in the United Kingdom to be given the power of arrest.
Smith was born in 1874 in Oxton, Merseyside. She was a midwife before becoming a police officer. She was recruited by the Lincolnshire Police Force to help deal with the increase in prostitution in Grantham, which was caused by the influx of soldiers during World War I.
Smith was a dedicated and hardworking police officer. She was known for her compassion and her willingness to help others. She was also known for her courage and her determination to uphold the law.
Smith resigned from the police force in 1918 due to ill health. She died in 1923 at the age of 46.
Smith was a pioneer for women in policing. She paved the way for other women to join the police force and to have a career in law enforcement. She is remembered as a dedicated and courageous police officer who made a difference in the lives of many people.
In Grantham, a blue plaque has been placed on the wall of the old town police station to commemorate Smith's service. There is also an exhibition about her life at Grantham Museum.
In 2023, an appeal was launched to raise money for a headstone for Smith's grave. The appeal was successful, and a headstone was placed on Smith's grave in 2024.
