National Inclusion Week: Putting Inclusion at the Heart of Our Work

Last week, Monday 23 to Sunday 29 September, was National Inclusion Week 2024. Essex Police took this opportunity to celebrate diversity and promote the importance of equality in the workplace.

This year’s theme was ‘Impact Matters’ – a call to action to everyone and a reminder that every one of us holds the potential to make a profound and positive impact.

To commemorate this, Essex Police teams, support networks as well as several outsider charities came together to curate events across the week for officers and staff.

As ever, valuing the diversity of the Essex Police workforce and the communities we protect and serve is inherent in everything we do, in line with our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Strategy and We Value Difference campaign.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington says: “Our society is ever-changing, and we must earn and maintain the trust of all the diverse communities we serve. We are helping to build a united Essex, where everyone feels valued.

“In Essex, catching criminals, protecting people and keeping people safe is always at the forefront of everything that we do - but we can only achieve this if we police with the consent of every community.

“That’s why National Inclusion Week is important to me and to every officer, volunteer and member of police staff who works with me. It remains vital that we commemorate this week every year and remind everyone within the force as well as the community we protect; that they are valued, supported and understood.”

Richard Leicester, Director of Human Resources, began proceedings in the opening event by reminding everyone that real change comes from actions, not just words:

“Let’s commit to making a meaningful impact by challenging biases, embracing diversity, and ensuring that inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.”

A series of virtual events, accessible to all employees, unfolded across the week to help raise awareness and educate on various subjects such as ‘The Power of Diverse Thinking’ spearheaded by Superintendent and Diversity and Inclusion Lead Darren Deex, as well as ‘Empowering Abilities: Celebrating Disability Inclusion’ and an introduction to some of the newer specialist networks available to the force such as ‘Endometriosis and Me’.

The week concluded with an ‘In person’ event at the Essex Police Headquarters and provided a refresher of what Essex Police can offer employees in terms of support and advice.

The force is proud of the many support networks that provide a safe space for all and encourages new networks to populate each year as our force grows with new people and their unique, diverse experiences. The networks in attendance were the Men’s Forum; Women’s Forum; LGBTQ+, Minority and Ethnic Support Association; Disability and Carers Network and Essex Police Benevolent Fund amongst many others.

Guest speakers included David Blundell, speaking on behalf of charity Police Care UK; the charity chosen to receive all proceeds raised by the event. Baloo the Welfare OK dog, along with her handler, were also working the crowd to receive head pats and spread joy to the guests.

Superintendent Darren Deex said; “the theme of this year’s National Inclusion week really resonates with the work that we do, the impact that we have both within our teams and in the communities that we serve depends on how inclusive WE are as a force.

“It’s not about ticking boxes, it’s about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and able to contribute to their full potential…once we unlock that potential, it drives better decision making, innovation and ultimately the delivery of a higher standard of policing.”

Detective Sergeant Carly Wickes, who has been involved in Essex Police’s support of National Inclusion Week for the past three years, thanked everyone for their contribution, she said “It’s a time of evaluation on what we have achieved so far, and what more we can do as an organisation, as a leader, as a team, as an individual. We all hold the key to this each year and I want to thank those that go above and beyond their day-to day roles to do so.”

At Essex Police, we value difference. We know we’re strongest when we work together. And we want a workforce that represents our communities. 

If you share our values and want to help people, keep people safe and catch criminals, then join us as a police officer, member of staff, special constable or volunteer.

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