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Equality Impact Assessments

What is an Impact Assessment?

An equality impact assessment (EIA) is a way of systematically and thoroughly assessing, and consulting on, the effects that a proposed policy is likely to have on people, due to factors such as their ethnicity, disability and gender. It can also be used as a way of estimating the likely equality implications of existing functions or policies on people from different backgrounds.

Our Equalities Impact Assessment Template

The template takes into account the six strands of equality, those being: age, disability, gender and gender identity, race and ethnicity, religion and belief and sexual orientation.  This is the template advocated by the Association of Police Authorities.  The template suggests that the following steps are carried out:

  • Identify the main aims of the function/policy, and who might have an interest in it
  • Consider the available quantitative and qualitative evidence and identify data gaps
  • Assess the likely impact
  • Consider alternatives – changes to the function/policy
  • Consult formally and revise the function/policy as necessary
  • Make monitoring arrangements
  • Publish assessment results.

Purpose

The purpose of the Equality Impact Assessment process is to improve the way in which the Authority develops policies and functions by making sure there is no discrimination in the way that they are designed, developed or delivered and to ensure that, wherever possible, equality is promoted.

Priorisation of Impact Assessments

We have used a 'function and policy assessment framework' to assess the relevance of functions and policies.  We are working through the plan to ensure that all high, medium and low priority policies and functions have been impact assessed.