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Equalities and Diversity

Our Commitment

Lincolnshire Police Authority recognises and values difference among all individuals and is committed to enhancing the levels of mutual confidence and understanding existing between the police service in Lincolnshire and different groups within our wider community.  We want to ensure that everyone, regardless of their gender, race, religion/belief, disability, age or sexual orientation receives a policing service that is responsive to their needs.

We aim to promote and deliver true equality both internally with our own staff and the Force and externally to the people of Lincolnshire in how we deliver a fair and equitable service.  We aim to make significant moves to improve the way the Authority conducts its business in relation to equality and diversity issues. 

View information about our Equalities and Diversity Policy. 

Our Combined Equalities Scheme

The Combined Equalities Scheme enables the Authority to provide in one document the processes for involvement, monitoring, review and consultation of procedures, policies, functions and practices that affect and impact on all or any of the strands of diversity which includes age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief and sexual orientation. 

We intend to update the Scheme following the enactment of the new Equalities legislation on 1 October 2010. We will do this in partnership with Lincolnshire Police. We will publish our Equality Objectives by April 2012.

Equality Act 2010

Under the Equality Act (2010) Section 149 creates a single public sector equality duty. Public bodies (including the Police Authority) must have due regard to the need to:

  1. eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act
  2. advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
  3. foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

The act covers nine protected characteristics, which cannot be used as a reason to treat people unfairly. Every person has one or more of the protected characteristics, so the act protects everyone against unfair treatment. The protected characteristics are:

  • age
  • disability
  • gender reassignment
  • marriage and civil partnership
  • pregnancy and maternity
  • race
  • religion or belief
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

Our Commitment

The Authority is committed to the following:

  • To create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all our staff are recognised and valued.
  • Every employee is entitled to a working environment that promotes dignity and respect to all. No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated.
  • Training, development and progression opportunities are available to all staff.
  • Equality in the workplace is good management practice and makes sound business sense.
  • We will review all our employment practices and procedures to ensure fairness.
  • Breaches of our equality policy will be regarded as misconduct and could lead to disciplinary proceedings.

Equalities and Diversity Portfolio Holder

We appointed an Equalities and Diversity Portfolio Holder to ‘champion’ equalities work and to provide additional assurances to the Authority.  Mrs Angela Crowe JP (Independent Member) was appointed into the role in November 2009. Mrs Crowe is also the Vice-Chairman of the Human Resources Committee. The Portfolio Holder has a Role Profile that gives details about the function and purpose of the job.  

Monitoring the Authority's Progress

The Authority will monitor the Authority's progress with regard to equality and diversity issues on a regular basis via the Human Resource Committee.  However, equality and diversity issues are not limited to discussions at the HR Committee.  To see the full overview of how and where the Authority monitors and scrutinises all issues relating to equality and diversity issues, go to our Equalities Oversight Activity page.

In order to ensure quality of opportunity we review equality monitoring information on a regular basis.  We look at information relating to the Authority membership, secretariat staff and for all new positions that we recruit in to.  We have also carried out an assessment into the potential gaps and issues in relation to equality information.

Monitoring the Force's Progress

The Authority also has a duty to monitor Lincolnshire Police’s progress in relation to equality and diversity issues, which it does through the Human Resources Committee meetings.  The Force's Equality Scheme is available to download from the Lincolnshire Police website at www.lincs.police.uk/Library/Publications/Lincolnshire-Police-Equality-Scheme-2010-2013.pdf (opens as PDF).  

Equalities Annual Report

An Annual Report is also produced that reviews the progress and achievements made by the Authority during the previous year.  This report also identifies the areas that require additional work.

Hate Crime

A hate crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice based upon the victim’s disability, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation or transgender.  The Force and Authority is committed to monitoring the impact of hate crime and raising awareness about hate crime reporting through its Combined Equalities Scheme.  Find out more about hate crime. 

Equalities Impact Assessments

As part of our commitment to our equalities and diversity duties, we carry out Equalities Impact Assesssments. 

National and Local Equalities Reports

The Authority considers local and national reports to help gain a good understanding of our communities in Lincolnshire including the extent of inequality and disadvantage. This helps us when we are making decisions and settings priorities. A selection of resources is provided below:

Lincolnshire Research Observatory - holds a wide range of local data including information about population, demographics, deprivation. The 'Equality and Diversity in Lincolnshire report' (opens as PDF) from 2009 highlights the key issues.

Equality and Human Rights Commission - the website includes a host of research reports on equality, divesity and human rights matters.

Home Office Equalities Office - website with information about the Equality Act 2010, the Equality Strategy, Womens' Equality and Equalities Research.

Feedback - give us your views on our Combined Equalities scheme

If you have any comments or feedback about the Combined Equalities Scheme or the associated Action Plans, please let us know.