I have been asked to provide a reference (personal) for a friend for a job with the police. The request has come from an individual who has given her name, but not her title. So as not to offend in these days of PC and feminism, how would I begin the response. I was going to put 'to whom it may concern' but is this ok with me knowing her name.

I know it's probably a minor thing, but I want to get it right.

Ta.

I'd go for; "Dearest Rozzer".

Dear Ms <insert second name>

Or just put Dear <insert full name>

Either way, she works for the police so she is probably barely literate. She probably won't give two hoots.

From a formal point of view you should address in the way they addressed you in the first instance
To avoid any issues a simple Dear and whatever the full name is that they gave as per TVR above mentions.
You could just ring and ask them.
It is surprising how often HR etc are frankly not quite what they used to be compared to BITD. The general decline in education and grammar standards are for all to see.
I was listening casually on the train into London recently some real HR horror stories so it's no surprise that this person has forgotten to include their job title which should be the next thing after their name...

And you have the brass neck to call me out...

Seconded.

I have filtered job applications on the basis of poor spelling and grammar, regardless of what uni the applicant went to or how good their grades were.

If they can't even knock up a decent CV and covering letter, than I don't want them anywhere near my clients.

I went to university aged 40 along with a few other 'oldies'. What suprised me was the poor standards in numeracy and literacy amongst the students who had just left school at A level stage, some had to have additional classes to get them to a level acceptable to present an academic essay. While not professing to be a master of the English language or a maths boffin, I was pleased non of the 'oldies' had to join them.

Intentional?

The first unit of my friends PR degree course is 'essay writing', it's an absolute farce.

or WPC

Dear scum......

Prat.