Diversity
Creating a workforce where diversity is recognised, celebrated and valued.
We recognise that having a diverse workforce makes us more approachable and relevant to our communities. There are many ethnic groups across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland and it is important that we reflect this diversity.
We are committed to supporting all staff and promoting equality and diversity. We warmly welcome people from all sections of the community and aim to be an employer of choice.
Valuing diversity
Positive action is an activity which helps employers identify and remove barriers and issues to the recruitment, retention and progression of people from under-represented groups, whilst still employing on merit.
We treat all applicants fairly and in accordance with current legislation. Positive action is not about giving some people favourable treatment; it's about levelling the playing field. We are looking for a talented workforce who can best serve our communities and that means looking at a wide and diverse range of applicants.
We do understand that there are many barriers that candidates may face in their journey to joining the police force as well as settling in. Through Positive Action we aim to dismantle those barriers and open doors and opportunities to all members of our communities and in particular those who may be disadvantaged in any way.
We focus on four aspects of Positive Action, these are:
- Recruitment
- Retention
- Progression
- Community Engagement
Fair Recruitment and Selection
Our recruitment and selection processes are based entirely on merit. All candidates wanting to join our police force have to go through the same processes, and those who perform most strongly will be offered positions working with us.
The difference between Positive Action and Positive Discrimination
You may have heard the terms positive action and positive discrimination in the workplace when talking about recruitment, however the two are not the same. Positive discrimination is prohibited, whereas positive action is lawful, encouraged and sometimes required.
Positive action does not mean that someone will be employed or advantaged simply because they share a protected characteristic or are from a particular background or community.
Rather it aims to encourage and support individuals from under-represented groups in order for them to overcome the barriers or disadvantages associated with their characteristics and to enable them to take part in an activity along with everyone else.
In contrast to positive discrimination, positive action enables everyone to compete on a level playing field and promote equality of opportunity. Positive action aims to remove disadvantages and enable individuals from all backgrounds and communities to be recruited or promoted based on merit.
As well as encouraging opportunities among our employees and volunteers to ensure fair processes and career pathways, positive action aims to create a comfortable, forward-thinking and positive working environment. Our ultimate goal is to be closer to the communities we serve and make everyone feel welcome at Leicestershire Police.
If you want to find out more, have any queries or are a member of the community or a professional wanting to get involved, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and a member of our team will get back to you.