Diversity and inclusion
Our Diversity Team co-ordinate and monitor the effectiveness of diversity across Kent Police and particularly in the training we provide. They also work with partner agencies and stakeholders to promote equality outside of the force.
Our Community Liaison Team is responsible for all external diversity engagement activities and co-ordinate the work of our Community Liaison Officers and independent advisory groups.
To find out more about your local Community Liaison Officer or to get in touch with them please use our contact form.
Equality Act 2010
Our current equality objectives are to:
- increase the number of black and ethnic minority officers to match that of the population in Kent
- retain and develop ethnic minority colleagues into specialist and supervisory roles
- increase the number of women in specialist and supervisory roles
- increase the numbers of officers and staff self-declaring sexual orientation, disability and religion.
The Single Equality Scheme is a public commitment to show how we'll meet our legal requirements by demonstrating how we promote equality in relation to 'protected characteristics'. Meeting these requirements is the minimum standard we aspire to.
Staff support groups
We're committed to making sure equality and diversity underpins our organisation and we help our staff by providing support and networking opportunities. There are currently nine staff support groups:
- Armed Forces Network
- Christian Police Association
- Enable (support for those who have a disability)
- Gypsy Roma Traveller Police Association
- LGBT+ Network
- Kent Network of Women
- Kent Police Agile Community
- Men's Forum
- Race Equality Network
Armed Forces Covenant
Kent Police honours the Armed Forces Covenant and supports the armed forces community. We recognise the value serving personnel - regular and reservist - along with veterans and military families contribute to our organisation and country.
Mental health
It’s estimated over 20% of police time is spent responding to people with mental health difficulties. We realise the importance of making sure our officers and staff are trained on different mental health issues and that vulnerable people we come into contact with are well supported.
Time to change
We’ve taken the Time To Change organisational pledge.
Understanding mental health problems is an important part of the training we deliver to our officers. Experienced nurses regularly give advice on a range of mental health issues when they attend our new recruit programmes and police officer refresher training.
The appointment of a champion for mental health within the force is helping us deliver workshops about managing mental health and challenging the stigma.
A series of training videos available to officers and staff has also helped with awareness of conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, confusion and schizophrenia.
A Dementia-friendly force
We're proud to become a Dementia Friendly force.We've committed to:
- meeting the foundation criteria for a dementia-friendly community
- completing an annual self-assessment of progress towards the criteria
- complying with the terms and conditions for use of the ‘working to become dementia friendly’ symbol