Uncover myths about Positive Action
There are many myths surrounding Positive Action. It is sometimes viewed negatively as it is confused with positive discrimination which is unlawful.
The following film features officers from different forces explaining what Positive Action means to them.
Kent Police will provide equal opportunities to you throughout your career with the support of the Positive Action team by:
- addressing pre-existing social inequalities
- supporting people who are disadvantaged due to a protected characteristic
- providing support to people who might need it - giving them confidence, experience and opportunity to put themselves forward for a suitable role
Anyone who is successful during the recruitment process will have been appointed because of their skills, abilities, and suitability for the role. They have not been appointed because they have received support from the Positive Action team or because they have a protected characteristic.
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| Kent Police are more interested in an individual’s characteristic than their ability to do the job. | Employment is always based on skills, ability and experience and an individual's ability to do the job well. We do not appoint based on physical characteristics including ethnicity. |
| Positive Action is just positive discrimination re-labelled. | Positive Action does not mean people will be recruited because of their gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. All applicants are treated equally. |
| I cannot apply as a police constable as I need to work part-time due to family commitments. |
Every officer can apply for part-time working after they have completed their 26 weeks full-time training. You can apply with approval from your line manager and the senior leadership team. You can also apply for flexible working with approval from your line manager. |
| Kent Police are not interested in recruiting white males, the current campaign is to recruit females and those from ethnic minorities. | We want to recruit talented people with a diverse range of skills and abilities. This includes people from all backgrounds and genders. We are keen to ensure that our workforce represents the communities we serve, and we are actively encouraging applications from females and those from other under-represented groups. |
| Using Positive Action will end up lowering standards. | The assessment process won't change because someone shows a particular characteristic. The best person will always get the job, but Positive Action will boost confidence, so people go for the right role for them, without feeling excluded. |
| Kent Police is diverse enough already. | According to latest figures, Kent Police are not currently reflective of the Kent population. To be able to police in the best possible way we need a diverse range of skills and experiences which benefit us and the people we serve. |
| Positive Action is just giving some people an unfair advantage. | Positive Action does not provide an unfair advantage but supports people who might need it - like mentoring and training. Giving them confidence, experience and opportunity to put themselves forward for a suitable role. We know that two out of every five candidates speak to someone in the force before joining. But if you don't know anyone in the police, you don't have the same opportunity. |
If you have some concerns or a barrier holding you back from applying, contact the Positive Action team, we can discuss your concerns and support you.