Skip to main content

Home | About us | Equality, diversity and human rights | Supporting our people

Supporting our people

Kent Police is committed to making sure equality and diversity underpins all aspects of police work.

Staff Support groups

Stonewall 2012Kent Police provides support to staff through informal meetings and by providing networking opportunities. There are currently five support groups:

  • Kent Minority Ethnic Police Association
  • Gay Police Association (Kent)  
  • Kent Police Disability Support Group (known as Crystal Clear)
  • Kent Network of Women
  • Christian Police Association

 

Diversity action groups

Action groups are responsible for creating and sustaining the equality and diversity agenda. Each group is made up of people from all levels across the force and is chaired by a senior member of Kent Police.

Each group:

  • takes ownership for their element of diversity
  • makes sure that actions from the delivery plan are carried out
  • undertakes wider community related responsiblities

Progress is fed into the Equality and Standards Board, on which the action group chairs sit. 

Following review of the action groups a new one has been created called 'People and Cultures'.

Follow the links below to read the terms of reference for each group:

 

Diversity Support Team

The diversity manager provides support and guidance to deliver a service which abides by fair practice in equality and diversity.

The Diversity Support Team co-ordinates and monitors delivery of the diversity agenda across Kent Police, ensuring that equality and diversity is mainstream in the organisation. The team also works with partner agencies and external stakeholders to promote equality and diversity outside Kent Police.

 

Training

To make sure diversity is part of all our work, we have developed a ‘train the trainers’ programme. All trainers in the organisation take a course that helps them integrate diversity into their own training courses and then pass on best practice to colleagues.

In addition, managers and supervisors take part in a four-day intensive training programme. Once back in the workplace they produce a portfolio of evidence demonstrating how their training has been integrated into their day-to-day work.

All officers and staff are expected to complete the e-learning national equality package and a wide range of activities and resources are available throughout the year to re-inforce or renew their knowledge.

  

Our Equality and Diversity structure

Force Performance Management Committee

This committee's prime role is to monitor progress against agreed and defined levels of performance across Kent Police. This committee therefore provides the strategic focus on how we deliver equality and diversity. The committee is chaired by the Deputy Chief Constable.

 Equality and Standards Board

The main purpose of the board is to create and develop working practices so the people of Kent and Medway receive services that meet and exceed their expectations. This is in accordance with our corporate policy, Policing Plan, the Kent Standard and the principles of citizen focused policing.   

The board is chaired by the Assistant Chief Constable (Human Resources) and it reports to the Force Performance Management Committee. 

 

Community Liaison Officers

Each of our Divisions has specially trained community liaison officers (CLOs) who work closely with their local community. They are located within the Community Safety Units.

CLOs monitor hate crime, review underlying trends and feedback to the force. They have regular contact with their local communities as well as partner organisations, such as voluntary sector bodies.

CLOs establish local liaison groups which feedback and advise Kent Police on the effectiveness of our service delivery in the community as well as challenge us on all aspects of local policing.