Promoting diversity and equality
Embedding equality and diversity principles within Leicestershire Constabulary is pivotal to 'protecting our communities by reducing crime and anti-social behaviour' as well as providing an equitable workplace for all our staff.
The Diversity Unit provides specialist advice and guidance on all issues of diversity and equality which includes age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
The unit is responsible for the management and review of the Equality Scheme and producing the annual reports and has specific responsibility for consultation and monitoring of the scheme.
The Equality Scheme assists the constabulary in providing a foundation, structure and accountability framework ensuring cohesion between all aspects of diversity and equality both internally with our own staff and externally in how we deliver a fair and equitable service to our communities.
In addition, the Diversity Unit is responsible for the co-ordination of the Equality Supporters Scheme which has been running since 1991.
Equality supporters include both police officers and police staff of varying ranks and levels across the organisation who are trained in all aspects of diversity and equal opportunity issues.
The main role of the Equality supporter is to give confidential and impartial support to anyone within the organisation who feels that they have been treated unfairly in any way or who have been a victim of bullying, harassment or discrimination in the workplace.
There are five internal support networks operating within the Constabulary, namely, the Black Police Association, the Christian Police Association, the Disability Support Network, the Gay Police Association and the Women’s Network.
The roles of staff associations, unions and support groups are essential to our police officers and police staff feeling that the organisation cares about them. The people in these groups are extremely dedicated and assist both individuals and the organisation.
In addition, the Constabulary is a corporate member of a range of organisations which promote diversity. These include the Race for Opportunity, Opportunity Now, Public Sector Diversity Network, Employer's Forum on Age, Employer's Forum on Disability, Stonewall and the British Association of Women Police.