Equalities information - future developments
The Equalities and Diversity Portfolio Holder has reviewed the Authority’s provision of equality information in relation to two key areas, namely engagement and consultation and the policing plan. The aim of the exercise was to identify key issues and gaps, assess our performance and agree actions where necessary.
Engagement and Consultation
The Authority agrees its Engagement and Consultation plan on an annual basis. The current plan for 2011/12 sets out activity that achieves one or more of the following targeted aims:
- Budget consultation
- Priorities consultation
- Awareness raising
- Empowering communities to be involved
- Website and internet engagement
- General access engagement
- Geographically targeted work
- Hard to reach groups
- Media and marketing involvement
In reviewing how we approached engagement last year, we can assess where we need to make improvements for future years. The implementation of the plan for 2011/12 largely covered most of the nine protected characteristics that the Equality Act 2010 highlights. This was achieved by direct, targeted engagement activity with particular groups of people or through relevant agencies/organisations (such as the Race Equality Council, Just Lincolnshire, Churches Together, Age Concern, Lincolnshire Association for People with Disabilities and the Independent Advisory Group).
However, it is acknowledged that more work could be done in some areas. The review highlighted that with regard to sexual orientation, there was no specific targeted engagement activity. The Authority has previously been represented at the local lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans-gender PRIDE event, but due to the levels of sponsorship required at the 2011 event, it was decided that this was prohibitively expensive. Despite this, the Authority's 'open access' events (the 'It all adds up’ campaigns' – 3 series of 6 – 8 events spread across the county) do offer engagement opportunities across a wide diverse group of people.
There is recognition also, that the protected characteristics of marriage/civil partnership and pregnancy/maternity are specifically targeted through the engagement plan, although these are also potentially covered through the open access events noted above.
Policing Plan
The Policing Plan sets out the policing priorities for Lincolnshire over a three year period. It shows how Lincolnshire Police will deliver the strategic priorities laid out by the Authority. During the development of the Policing Plan for 2011 – 14, a paper was considered on 'Confidence in policing among 'seldom heard' audiences'. Priorities consultation results are considered as a matter of course.
In the planning stages for the Policing Plan 2012 – 15, the Portfolio Holder also provided a briefing to members on the key equalities issues, highlighting the importance of showing that we are taking the community’s needs into account, working with them and putting them at the heart of everything we do. Suggested examples included:
- Showing where the Force has been 'victim focused', for example working in partnership to get funding for a Hate Crime Co-ordinator based at Victim Support and training community groups/members/volunteers and staff in different agencies across the county in the crime awareness.
- Improving access for the community via the new appointment system which is much more individual focused.
- Involving the community in decisions which affect them (equality impact assessments) for example, the changes to public access to police stations.
These points have been taken into account in the development of the 2012 – 15 plan.
Following the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in November 2012, it is possible that the Policing Plan 2012 – 15 will need to be re-issued. The PCC will be briefed on equalities and diversity matters.
The Portfolio Holder recognises that there is more assessment work to be done to highlight additional information gaps across other areas of Authority work in order that plans can be put in place to address them.