Representing your communities in 2022

Essex Police is continuing to represent all the different communities we serve, and our We Value Difference recruitment campaign is helping to bring new people into policing.

In the past two years, we’ve seen amazing results thanks to our We Value Difference campaign, which is aimed at all those who hadn’t previously thought that policing was a profession for them.

We’ve seen that the voices of our officers - from female firearms officers, to the most senior Black woman in our force, and officers from the LGBTQ+ community – have encouraged even more people to come forward from a diverse range of backgrounds. Scores of colleagues have spoken up about their work protecting and serving the county, encouraging others to apply for a wide range of roles or to transfer to the force from other organisations.

The most recent intake at the Essex Police College, based in Chelmsford, saw 59% of the intake identify as female, with 11% of students coming from a minority ethnic background.

In a typical week during 2021, an average of 14% of new applicants identified themselves as being from minority ethnic backgrounds and 32% identified as women.

These figures are promising, but we’re nowhere near where we want to be yet.

For newer recruits, like PC Jamone Campbell, who started his policing journey in 2021, his new career has made a huge difference to his life.

 

 

“I've been welcomed into a field of work that has a challenging relationship with people from my background. It’s heart-warming to see that society is changing and so is Essex Police.
“As someone who has suffered from racial abuse in the past, nothing feels more satisfying then proving someone wrong by making something of yourself.
“Stop listening to people saying you are nothing, or that you’re just the typical stereotype. You are so much more.”
PC Jamone Campbell

Since the Essex Police We Value Difference campaign was devised in Spring 2020, we have set out to give people from every part of our community a voice. Almost 70 colleagues have featured in news stories, on our website or spoken up at community meetings about what it’s like working in the force.

We’ve also welcomed nine new applications to the Brentwood and Epping Forest Independent Advisory Group, which tells the local policing commander what people think about the service the force delivers, and how we can make the area even safer.

We also regularly show body-worn video of police incidents – including stop and search – to another independent group so that communities can see the approach we take and, where appropriate, tell us how we can improve.

Over the past 18 months, the force has progressed several high-profile investigations into incidents of anti-Semitism and racism, offering support to people affected by crime while bringing offenders to justice.

“More and more men and women from all backgrounds are joining us to catch criminals and keep people safe and there is now a record number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic colleagues at Essex Police, which is great.
“When we see people trying to discriminate or spread hatred, we hold them to account.
“If we get something wrong, we listen and we put it right.
“I’m really proud of the people I work with.
“What’s more important is that in the last year, Black, white, Asian and minority ethnic communities have told us they have equally high levels of trust in our officers and police staff. That hasn’t always been the case and we will never take anyone’s trust for granted.”
Chief Constable of Essex Police, Ben-Julian Harrington QPM

 

If you think you #FitTheBill, you can apply to be an officer, detective, member of staff or volunteer with Essex Police or you can transfer from your current organisation by visiting www.essex.police.uk/fitthebill.