Community Cohesion and Diversity Unit

What is diversity?
Our view on diversity is that it's a strategy to promote values, behaviours and working practices which recognise and value the difference between people, releasing their potential, enhancing performance and delivering improved services to customers.

Our workforce is made up of lots of different people. Some of our differences are obvious, some less so, but factors such as sex, age, background, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, personality and work style are all elements that sit inside the concept of 'diversity'.

We believe that recognising and celebrating these differences will create a better atmosphere in which everybody feels valued, where talents are fully realised and goals are met.

Diversity is not the same as 'equal opportunities'. 'Equal opportunities' deals primarily with personnel issues. It makes sure that our rules and procedures follow the law for employees from minority groups. Equal opportunities focuses on treating everyone in the same way. It does not necessarily recognise that different people have different needs and are able to contribute in different ways.

Diversity focuses on understanding and influencing workplace attitudes and culture. It's about identifying and developing individual skills, contributions and potential.

What does it mean for Lancashire Constabulary?
Diversity is a key part of all aspects of Constabulary life. As well as being able to understand our own staff, we need to be able to understand the needs of different people and communities when we go about policing.

The Community Cohesion and Diversity Unit is based at police headquarters in Hutton and is made up of police officers and staff and is headed by a Superintendent. There is a Deaf Liaison Officer and a Sensory Impairment Officer.

The role of the team is to co-ordinate and drive strategy and policy in relation to diversity across every area of Constabulary business.

By recognising and celebrating differences in people, we create a better organisation in which everybody feels valued, where their talents are fully realised and in which Constabulary goals are met.

We feel very strongly about the following principles:

• Every person is unique and should be treated with respect and dignity.
• Our services should respond to the diversity of our local communities and cultures.
• Our workforce is our key resource and investing in our staff, involving them in decisions, and developing flexible ways of working delivers better outcomes for people who use our services.
• Only by effectively engaging with our diverse communities will we be able to police effectively.

Please click to download the Lancashire Constabulary Equality Scheme 2009-12