Only 7% of High Court judges are women

The Fawcett Society looked at the police, judiciary, legal profession, Crown Prosecution Service, Prison Service and probation service.

The group, which campaigns for gender equality, found one woman among 12 law lords, five in 43 chief constables and 18 out of 42 chief probation officers.

Vera Baird QC, also MP for Redcar, said the situation was "unacceptable".

She is chairman of a commission set up by the society to look at the problem and warned action was needed urgently.

The report also claimed there were seven women out of 42 chief crown prosecutors and 31 among the 138 top prison governors.

Without more women across the criminal justice system, the legitimacy and credibility of the system will be undermined Vera Baird QC Why so few women judges?

This lack of women winning top jobs comes despite growing numbers of females in the system, it claimed.

For example, it claimed 59% of law graduates were female but only 7% of High Court judges were women.

Ms Baird said: "It is unacceptable that the system that delivers justice - to both women and men - remains male dominated.

"Without more women across the criminal justice system, the legitimacy and credibility of the system will be undermined over the longer term.

"The commission is calling for all criminal justice sectors and professions to look seriously at their practices and procedures to see what measures are necessary to create true equality of opportunity at work.

"To take one example, equal pay reviews should be conducted in all criminal justice agencies to identify whether women are being justly rewarded for the work that they do."

As well as discrimination, women faced other obstacles such as sexual harassment, inadequate maternity leave and childcare arrangements, the study said.

The commission's full report is due to be launched at the end of this month.