Equality and diversity
At the very heart of everything Essex Police does is the community.
Communities are diverse and getting to know each and every one within the county helps us do our job more effectively. Put simply, diversity means difference across race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, faith and age.
We take diversity related issues very seriously and continually review how we can best meet the needs of the residents of Essex and those who work and visit here.
It’s important to us that your experience of Essex Police is a positive one and that means being sensitive and responsive to your individual needs.
To make sure that happens we have a Diversity Unit constantly working to raise awareness of equality and diversity within the daily business of Essex Police.
Valuing differences, treating people fairly and judging people on merit makes for better policing and we’re determined to make sure nobody who comes into contact with us is disadvantaged.
We strive to make the way we deliver our services, provide information and carry out our employment functions open and accessible to all.
Here you can read about what we’re doing to build a diverse workforce and how we’re working to improve the quality of service we offer the communities of Essex.
If you would like more information about equality and diversity within Essex Police contact the diversity unit online or by calling 101.
Staff support networks help improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they’re reflected through our work. They give officers, staff and volunteers the chance to share their experiences and concerns and help us learn from our mistakes and successes.
If you’re thinking about a career with Essex Police you might like to know about some we have available:
Agile Working Support Network
The Agile Working Support Network provides support for all staff and officers who are working in an agile manner including those working remotely or a flexible office pattern. The network provide advice and aim to assist the Force with understanding the needs of an individual’s working pattern and how this will work for the wider organisation.
Armed Forces Network
The Armed Forces Network exist to support and advocate the Armed Forces Covenant, support staff who are veterans and/or reservists/cadet leaders, support staff who are family/carers of regulars/veterans/reservists/cadet leaders and support veterans and their families within the community. We are proud to support the armed forces community and their families.
Catholic Police Guild
The Catholic Police Guild was formed in 1914 in the Metropolitan Police to cater for the spiritual needs of Catholic Police Officers. The Guild has changed over the years and now covers the whole of England and Wales. Membership is open to police officers and staff, and has a friends section for those who are not Catholic, but interested in Catholic issues.
Christian Police Association
The Christian Police Association is a national voice for Christians in policing and provides encouragement and support for Christians in the Police Service.
Disability and Carers Network
The networks mission is to improve the lived experience for its employees with disabilities and carers, and to support Essex Police to be known as an employer of choice. Supporting Essex Police to be a Disability Confident organisation where everyone can thrive and success, help people bring their authentic selves to work and to build an effective and east to use workplace adjustment process.
Fairplay Advisors Network - volunteer grievance advisors
Fairplay Advisers aim to be the first point of contact for officers and staff seeking advice on their individual concerns around fairness, equality, diversity and/or inclusion at work that falls outside of other processes.
Help Forum
The Help Forum is a network which offers support, information and guidance to our staff and officers who are seeking help when faced with challenges at work or home.
LGBTQ+ Network
Support for those in the LGBTQ+ community, raise awareness of issues being faced both inside and outside the force, influencing internal policy and advising colleagues on dealing with hate crime in the community.
Menopause and Andropause Support
The overarching vision of the Menopause and Andropause Support Group is help, support, and guide all officers, staff and volunteers in dealing with or supporting those dealing with the menopause.
Men’s Forum
The Men's Forum is an open and fully inclusive forum regardless of ethnicity, sexuality or trans status where members can leave their machismo anorak at the door and discuss or just listen about issues that affect men.
MESA – Multi-Ethnic Support Association
MESA are committed to ensuring fair and equal treatment of multi-ethnic members of Essex Police and a quality of service to the diverse communities of Essex. The association was formed to celebrate the different cultures, religions, beliefs and ancestry multi-ethnic staff have; to support and represent members in their particular experiences; to improve management understanding of diversity issues; and to contribute to the wider multi-ethnic perspectives. The association plays a role in helping to foster and promote good relations between Essex Police and multi-ethnic organisations and communities.
Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Service
Chaplaincy is for anyone who works within Essex Police. Chaplaincy is available to people from any faith, or to those who express no faith at all.
TRiM - Trauma Risk Management
TRiM is a personal, purely voluntarily, peer to peer, non-clinical discussion. A TRiM assessment aims to identify if officers and staff are normalising events, or alternatively if you are displaying signs of potentially needing additional support. The assessment will support members of Essex Police with recovery and allow them to understand that their reactions are natural and normal. The TRiM practitioner will also assist in signposting you to any further support.
Women’s Forum
The Women’s Leadership & Development Forum is a support group for all women officers & staff. The forum aims to support colleagues in their personal development, empower officers & staff to be the best they can be and support women through times of change.
Each group nominates a representative to sit on our Diversity and Inclusion Board, a strategic meeting held quarterly, as well as attending local diversity and inclusion meetings.
Our aim is to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and attracts the best talent from the widest pool of people.
However some groups of people are currently under represented either in our workforce as a whole or in particular positions.
Our commitment to promoting fairness and equality is underpinned by our Positive Action programme. In line with equality legislation, Positive Action initiative offers under-represented groups additional support to ensure equality of opportunity for the recruitment process is fair for everyone.
Positive Action initiatives include:
The buddy scheme for candidates
The buddy is a trained Police officer or member of Police staff who becomes a point of contact at all stages of the recruitment process to offer moral support and guidance through the process.
Preparation Evenings
There are various stages to our recruitment process. Once you have been successful at shortlisting stage, you’ll be invited to attend a briefing event to find out more information about the role and the next stage of the selection process.
This briefing session will ensure you are provided with information about the Police National SEARCH Assessment Centre and give you the opportunity to ask any questions and clarify any information.
At this point you will have an opportunity to sign up to our Positive Action Programme (PAP) to support you with the remaining stages of the process.
Employees from ethnic minority groups and with disabilities are currently under represented across Essex Police while women are under represented in senior management positions and the role of police officer. Men are under represented in administrative roles.
Under represented is a term used to describe the situation whereby the diversity of the local community is not accurately reflected in the workplace.
It’s worked out by taking the make up of the local population of working age and comparing it to the current workforce at Essex Police.
We’re working to make sure the diversity of the community is reflected by our workforce. That’s where positive action comes in.
Positive action refers to measures designed to counteract the effects of past discrimination and help eliminate stereotyping.
It’s not about favouring some people over others but is a way of helping employers encourage people from under represented groups to apply for jobs and promotions.
Sadly, some people believe they won’t fit in to an organisation because of their lifestyle or background. Their past experiences may even have led them to think they wouldn’t be welcome as an employee.
Positive action aims to dispel these myths, show potential employees how organisations have changed and emphasise that applications are very welcome from people from under represented groups. Final selection for a post is always made on merit however.
Positive action is not the same as positive discrimination. Positive discrimination is unlawful in the UK but certain positive action initiatives are permitted by law.
For example, the Disability Discrimination Act (now covered under the Equality Duty 2010) and Government Two Ticks Scheme were introduced to support the employment of people with disabilities.
We’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and are currently considering issues relating to under representation in support staff and police specialist posts.
Public Sector Equality Duty
Section 149 Equality Act 2010
This legal duty requires public bodies (and their individual members) to have ‘due regard’ to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and foster good relations in carrying out their business functions.
This means taking a pro-active approach to understanding and responding to staff and service users (and potential users) needs, understanding the impact of business policies, procedures and decisions on different people, delivering fair and appropriate services and promoting equality. Most aspects of business will be covered by the duty, including policy making, providing services and employing people.
The duty involves:
- Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic* that are connected to that characteristic;
- Taking steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic* that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it;
- Meeting the needs of disabled persons that are different from the needs of persons who are not disabled including, in particular, steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities.
* Protected Characteristics is the term introduced by the Equality Act 2010 to describe the specific groups of people who are protected from discrimination under the Act. The characteristics protected are Age, Disability, Pregnancy & Maternity, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex, Sexual Orientation and Transgender.
How does Essex Police comply with the duty?
Public bodies are required to publish information about their compliance by 31 January 2012 and annually thereafter.
They are also required to publish one or more ‘Equality Objectives’ by 4 April 2012 and every 4 years thereafter.
Published on Monday 30 November, 2020.
Statutory Duty Information Reports
Do you fit the bill?
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.
Find out if you #FitTheBill by visiting our careers page.