Equality and Diversity

Our ambition is ‘to consistently be the best police force in the country’.

We believe that Equality and Diversity is fundamental in achieving that ambition if we are to have the trust and confidence of all the communities we serve in Lancashire.

Diversity therefore remains a strategic priority for the Constabulary.

Our Diversity Champion is Assistant Chief Constable Peter White and he chairs the Confidence and Equality Board which meets quarterly and sets the strategic direction on all equality and diversity matters for the Constabulary. 

The Confidence and Equality Board directs the work of the Confidence and Equality Delivery Group, and receives progress reports and exception reports from them which will allow the Constabulary to ensure appropriate staffing and other resources are provided to successfully deliver the Constabulary equality and diversity development plan.

The Confidence and Equality Delivery Group consists of Diversity Champions who are Chief Inspectors or police staff equivalent from all territorial and thematic divisions together with Headquarters departments and staff from the Local Policing Unit.  

The Confidence and Equality Delivery Group owns and is responsible for delivering the Equality and Diversity Development Plan which focuses on three key areas:

• Ensuring we engage with all the communities of Lancashire and deliver services that are easy to access and meet their needs
• Expanding and developing a diverse workforce, encouraging increased representation from minority communities
• Tackling Hate Crime – from raising awareness and encouraging reporting through to ensuring equitable service delivery. 

The Confidence and Equality Delivery Group, produces reports and updates actions on the Equality and Diversity Development Plan for the Confidence and Equality Board.

Each territorial division has its own equality and diversity department although they may have different names and resourcing.  The heads of these departments usually a police sergeant meets on a regular basis to ensure they are up to date on the work of the Confidence and Equality Board and Confidence and Equality Delivery Group.  Their aims are to ensure consistency around the delivery of equality and diversity and discuss best practice around areas such as hate crime.

Finally the Lancashire Police Authority which is an independent body, monitor the policing priorities for the Constabulary which includes equality and diversity.  As such they meet on a regular basis with both the Assistant Chief Constable and strategic lead for equality and diversity and are represented at both the Confidence and Equality Board and Confidence and Equality Delivery Group.  They also host a Staff Consultative Forum which includes representatives from all of the staff associations and staff networks.

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Human Resources - Workforce Representation

The Human Resources department is based at our police headquarters and provide administrative support and specialist advice for all human resources procedures including:

• Retirements;
• Maternity / Paternity / Adoption;
• Business interests;
• Career breaks;
• 30+ scheme;

They also look after resourcing issues including the recruitment of new police officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), Specials and all police staff vacancies.  In addition to this they oversee all promotion boards and the High Potential Development Scheme.

Click for Workforce Representation and Human Resources Information

Staff Support Networks

Lancashire Constabulary has a number of Staff Support Networks which are there to support staff.  These staff support networks have a key role to play within the Constabulary in ensuring we meet our requirements under the Equality Act 2010.  Consultation takes place on all strategic decisions and policies with each of the staff support networks and in addition the staff support networks are represented at the Confidence and Equality Board and Confidence and Equality Delivery Group meetings.  In addition the staff network chairs meet with the Chief Officer Team quarterly to discuss any issues they may have.  The Police Authority also hosts a Staff Consultative Forum where all staff support networks are represented.  The Staff Support Networks have an extremely close working relationship which is reflected in the support they receive by the Constabulary.

Lancashire Black Police Association

Lancashire Black Police association, (LBPA), was formed in 1997 and launched a year later. The association was formed to provide a collective voice for the black and minority ethnic, (BME), police officers and staff employed by Lancashire Constabulary.

Some aspects of the LBPA work are as follows:

• Building trust & confidence between BME communities and Lancashire Constabulary
• Raising awareness & understanding of both the BME communities and Lancashire Constabulary
• Maintaining & Strengthening external networks
• Support/advice for members
• Raising concerns/issues/needs of members
• Support/advice/representation for/of members at complaints/disciplinary meetings/investigations
• Support for Chief/senior officer team
• Consultation/advice on policy/procedure
• Consultation/advice on operational policing
• Support/advice for specialist departments
• Workforce Representation – recruitment/retention/progression of BME staff
• Support/advice/training for recruits

The LBPA acts as the Constabulary’s conscious and a critical friend on our areas of work and is a conduit between the Constabulary and its BME staff and communities.

The association is run by seven executive committee members, who are elected every two years and are supported by a divisional rep for each of our six geographic policing areas and one for the staff based at the Constabulary headquarters.

LBPA is affiliated to the National Black Police Association, (NBPA).

Our contact details are:

Telephone: 01772 412441

Email: mahmood.ahmed@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

Lancashire LGBT Staff Network

The LGBT Staff Network will be open to any staff member self-identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or Trans, regardless of gender, role or rank.

Our Aims:

• Exist to work towards equality of opportunity for LGBT employees;
• Work with the Lancashire Constabulary to educate the police service on issues connected with sexual orientation;
• Provide a structured organisation through which LGBT officers and support staff can meet together regularly;
• Develop a network of social and professional contacts across the Constabulary;
• Provide contacts with information on career progression, promotion and specialist roles within the Constabulary;
• Assist contacts in their professional development by exchanging shared experiences, mentoring and coaching;
• provide direction with regard to personal development, self motivation and the work/life balance;
• Encourage newly appointed police officers and police staff to network with colleagues;
• Support contacts in the improvement of their working environment;
• prompt contacts to develop networks and exchange views and expertise regionally, nationally and internationally;
• Support the aims and objectives of the national Gay Police Association (GPA);

 Our Objectives:

• To offer advice and support in a totally confidential manner; We provide an email address and dedicated voicemail only accessible by the Committee;
• To offer advice and support to both existing staff, whether LGBT or not, and those from the LGBT community interested in joining the service;
• To work towards improving relations between the Lancashire Constabulary and gay communities;
• To work towards creating an improved working environment to enable and empower LGBT employees to feel more comfortable at work;

The network has appointed an executive committee which includes both a male and female chair as per Stonewall recommendations and also has representatives from each territorial division.

Our contact details are:

Telephone: 01772 412626

Email: lgbtstaffnetwork@lancashire.pnn.police.uk  

Lancashire Women’s Network

The Women’s Network was launched in May 2005.  The Network was established to encourage more women to be involved in the Constabulary’s decision making processes and to develop a network of professional and social contacts between women at a local, national and eventually international level.

The AIMS of the Networks are:

• To provide encouragement, mentoring and coaching to support career development, and thus inspire women to achieve their full potential
• To create opportunities to share experiences with other women in the Constabulary, communicating across the Constabulary for mutual advantage
• To raise awareness of, and provide information and advice on, a range of gender-specific issues
• To establish a forum that aims to influence Constabulary policies and procedures
• To strive for proportionate representation in specialist posts, supervisory and management roles
• To support the promotion and implementation of the ‘Gender Agenda’
• To provide opportunities for personal and professional development to all staff, with a particular regard to gender issues
• To offer all members of staff with the opportunity to develop an insight into issues which affect women

Membership of the network is open to is open to all police staff and police officers across the Constabulary, including PCSOs, Specials and Community Volunteers; this includes both men and women.  The Women's Network aims to cover topics that are of equal benefit to both police officers and police staff. 

Work of the network is driven forward by an annually elected executive committee.  The executive membership includes representatives from each of the Constabulary’s six geographic policing areas, two specialist operations business areas and headquarters.

The network maintains links with internal staff associations including the Senior Women Detective Network.

Our contact details are:

Telephone: 01772 415804

Email: Jennifer.gomery@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

Lancashire Disability Support Network

The group aims to ensure that staff who are affected by a condition, whether to themselves or dependants, are able to work effectively in an environment that focuses on capabilities rather than disabilities.

Our Aims:

• Provide initial support to staff who declare that they feel they have a disability to which the DDA applies or any disability which they feel will have an adverse effect on their working conditions;
• Establish a network of people who have knowledge of specific disabilities / conditions and can provide an insight into the effects of that disability / condition on an individual;
• Identify Divisional contacts who will be the link between staff and members of the group (a support and advice network) and who will assist, where necessary, in providing a mediation role between staff who seeking support and any other representative of the Constabulary to assist in ensuring that staff have a good work / life balance;
• Assist in the education of all staff concerning issues around disability by:
• Assisting in providing awareness training to all staff focussing on capabilities rather than disabilities.
• Establishing a database of disabilities, conditions and useful points of reference that can be a point of reference for all staff within the Constabulary
• Establishing a database of examples where organisations have taken cognisance of the DDA in ensuring that staff are able to contribute effectively in the workplace.
• Work alongside the National Disabled Police Association, Federation, UNISON, LBPA, GPA and the Womens Network towards equality of opportunities internally for staff with a disability and thereby improve recruitment, retention and progression of staff with a disability;
• To encourage and establish good working practices within Lancashire Constabulary for the benefit of people with disabilities and the organisation, ensuring no one is subject of discrimination because of his/her disability, for example providing an input into the development and review of force policies;

Our contact details are:

Telephone: 01772 413561

Email: martin.fishwick@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

Lancashire Christian Police Association

Lancashire Christian Police Association (CPA) has met as an informal network for a number of years.  Previously there was a recognised branch of Lancashire CPA at national level and in November 2011, the branch was officially relaunched. 

The Lancashire CPA branch is a recognised staff support group and supports more than 50 members of staff across the force area. Our aim is to glorify Jesus Christ by supporting all colleagues working within Lancashire Constabulary and encouraging Christian colleagues to live out their Christian faith in the workplace.

In order to achieve this, we arrange meetings locally for Christian staff, circulate regular prayer emails and are involved in many initiatives in partnership with the local Christian community, such as Street Pastors.

Attendance at meetings and events is open to all police staff and police officers across the Constabulary regardless of personal beliefs, including retired colleagues, however to become either a full or associate member of the CPA, individuals have to agree to the CPA Basis of Faith. (www.cpauk.net/membership.php)

The Branch Leader of the CPA is appointed by the National Council and is supported in their work from within Lancashire CPA. It is planned to appoint representative in every Division in order that they can provide advice or support in issues regarding faith matters.

Our contact details are:

Telephone: 01524 596611 or 07939 227436  

E-mail Kirstie.Banks-Lyon@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

Gay Police Association

The GPA was formed in 1990. It has grown into a formally recognised and respected staff association with members in all 52 UK police forces. The GPA is the only national organisation that specifically represents the needs and interests of gay and bisexual police officers and staff in the United Kingdom.

In addition to our work to support gay staff we also work to educate the police service and central government on all issues connected with sexual orientation and policing. This includes policy development, the investigation of homophobic hate crime, victim care, family and community liaison.

The Association is governed by a constitution, which clearly directs its activities, and run by a National Executive Committee, whose members carry out specific roles. There is currently one Lancashire officer elected to the National Executive Committee. The members of the National Executive Committee are elected, biennially, from the full membership of the GPA, which encompasses Police Officers and Staff from virtually every UK Police Force, and this role is undertaken voluntarily and in addition to the members’ everyday policing duties.

In furtherance of the Association’s aims, local issues are overseen by individual Force Co-ordinators and Force Contacts, who are appointed, after a set application process, by the GPA. The Lancashire Force Co-ordinator carries out their role voluntarily, with agreed levels of duty-time and resources provided by the Chief Constable.

The GPA contact details are as follows: info@gpa.police.uk - for both general and urgent enquiries, hiv.info@gpa.police.uk – for information, advice and support relating to HIV/AIDS

Best Practice and Community Engagement in Lancashire

Lancashire Constabulary ensures that Equality and Diversity is mainstreamed across all of its day to day business and as such we are proud of the amount of work that we undertake to engage with our diverse communities.

Here are some examples of the work we have undertaken in Lancashire over the last 12 to 18 months. 

• Monthly LGBT specific Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in Blackpool;
• Monthly Disability specific PACT meetings;
• Blue Phone confidential helpline 07940 979610 where members of the LGBT community can obtain general information or for personal reporting or advice surrounding LGBT issues. All calls are treated in the strictest confidence and can be made anonymously if preferred operating in Western Division;
• Prevent Magic Show being delivered to all primary schools following funding support of £3000 from Tesco;
• Bonanza Project which is run with the Princes Trust which works with vulnerable young people to provide them with education and training working ultimately to establish them in employment;
• Bi-monthly Disability PACT meetings;
• Work around Public Sex Environments (PSE) in the Beacon Area near Upholland following complaints of anti-social behaviour by members of the public from men cruising for sex.  As a result a multi-agency operation was launched which has resulted in the operation being deemed best practice to be adopted across Lancashire where we receive complaints of this nature.  It involves the placing of warning signs, community engagement and the posting of key messages on websites used by the cruising community;
• Following a number of incidents of unauthorised encampments in Southern Division a new partnership approach was adopted to deal with these incidents.  As a result of the work done, a new policy has been devised in consultation with the Gypsy Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities and is now Constabulary Policy;
• Production of the H8 DVD a project set up to tackle under reporting of hate crime across most of the protected characteristics. This work is linked in with presentations in schools and organisations around hate crime awareness. The DVD has been recognised nationally winning awards and has now been developed into a National hate crime awareness DVD which will be launched by the Association of Chief Police Officers;
• British Sign Language (BSL)  communication guide which was developed in response to feedback from the Lancashire Deaf forum amongst others re communication between the police and the deaf community;
• Development of 3^rd party reporting centres and the training delivered to providers of services to individuals in particular people with learning disabilities;
• Polish/Lithuanian PACT meetings – to clarify social and legal issues e.g. carrying of CS which is legal in Lithuania;
• Inputs to schools/ colleges in relation to Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence;
• Forced Marriage and Honor Based Violence play by Burnley Youth Theatre – (in pipeline, Lottery “Awards for All” funding in place)
• Deaf scam DVD;
• PIECE Project – Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC) funded project working with adults with learning difficulties offering them personal safety advice and breaking down barriers between them and the police; (long term project)
• Member of Cygnets2Swans Transgender Support Group based in Blackburn but serving the whole of Lancashire.  Support has included representation at meetings and a leaflet supported by the Lancashire Constabulary LGBT Staff Network for distribution to GP surgeries and gender reassignment clinics;
• Wyre Disability Forum which has developed further learning and understanding amongst its members in regards to the Safeguarding of vulnerable individuals especially towards ‘Mate Crime’ – Hate crime committed by carers, family or friends;
• Wyre One World (WOW) is a diversity event held by a group of community organisations including the Constabulary, at a community venue and open to the public promoting community cohesion and breaking down barriers to make the area of Wyre a safe and equitable place to live;
• Development of GRT practitioner groups to address educational, health and welfare issues of the Travellers as well as lead agencies to any unauthorised encampments;
• Derby and Joan group meet at Little Harwood Community Centre. This was set up as it was highlighted that the older residents felt vulnerable and wanted improved contact with the police and a safe place to meet and socialise. This is a social event that the policing teams use to engage, provide reassurance and crime prevention advice.
• Ladies Luncheon Club – this has just re-launched following a successful joint LANPAC bid to improve confidence in the community particularly with Asian females. The group meets every two weeks and has inputs from different agencies. Having devised a programme to suit the needs of the community, the NHPT attend once a month and provide information about crime/drugs/ASB issues and have crime prevention items to give to attendees. The funding bid also enabled us to buy three CCTV cameras which we can place in homes to provide reassurance. The group is consulted in relation to decisions made about where to place the cameras. The aim of this project is to encourage contact with the NHPT, improve relationships and confidence and also to empower the ladies to work towards improving their own neighbourhood.
• Work with Apple Trees Respite Centre a centre for people with disabilities and is used to ensure there are the appropriate channels open for reporting of any issues and to increase confidence.
• Thrivine – This is a HIV group that meets monthly. This is a group of the community that feel isolated and are often in fear and the police work with them to improve trust and confidence.
• Regular contact is maintained with all the mosques and churches in the area to ensure any issues related to religion are addressed. This work is also built on through the use of mentors from the Inter Madrassa Organisation to work with young people from the Asian heritage Muslim community who have become disaffected and are on the cusp of criminality.
• Over 60’s group is a monthly group that is attended to ensure that issues specific to the older residents are addressed. Another vulnerable group.
• Kickz and Shin Gi Ryu are two youth groups that we engage with weekly to improve relationships with local youths. We have used the group to refer young people from the Asian heritage community in an effort to divert them from ASB and low level crime.
• Traveller PACT meeting held every Wednesday at a local Traveller site. Relationships with the Traveller community are challenging for the Police and this meeting together with the use of a single point of contact liaison officer has significantly improved relationships. The Travelling community can be hard to reach and are often targeted for a number of reasons.
• PACT meeting held at The Salvation Army Hostel. The hostel is occupied by a large number of disabled occupants who are invited to and often attend the meetings.  The Hostel also has good links to The East Lancashire Deaf Society which is an adjacent premises and also frequented by those with the protected characteristics of having a disability
• Occasional MIND PACT for people that have low level mental health issues. This is done in conjunction with the staff at the charity MIND. No formal PACT return was ever submitted at the request of MIND. Obviously the whole engagement loosely followed the PACT process with tweaks were made as necessary.
• A series of Polish PACT meetings run to address the needs of the growing Polish community in Blackburn.
• ‘Helping Hands’ who meet regularly to provide advocate style advice for the local Polish community. The local policing team also link in with National Coaltion Building Institute who carry out similar work. The team also link in with ‘More Music’, again another avenue into the Polish community. The team also link in with a Polish Fire Safety advocate and carry out joint work and inspections.
• Fleetwood Nautical College has a high percentage of students from Asia and Africa. Local NHP officers link in with new students and the college at the start of each academic year, boosted when necessary throughout the year.