Equal opportunities
Durham Police Authority is made up of 17 local people from across County Durham and Darlington who represent local communities on policing matters. Information is available of the demographics of Members and staff who work for Durham Police Authority.
The Authority has a statutory duty to promote equality and diversity and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, striving to eliminate any unlawful discrimination in service delivery and employment and build it into every aspect of the Authority’s policy, aims and objectives.
The Authority is committed to:
- Promoting principles and practices, which mainstream equality of opportunity and justice throughout the Police Authority for the benefit of the wider community.
- Ensuring no user of our services shall receive unfavourable treatment directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnic origin, religious beliefs, age or disability and where applicable, trade union membership.
- Respecting the differences that people have and meeting the needs of diverse groups within the community.
- Providing equitable services to every individual within the community.
- Implementing clear anti-discriminatory policies to address inequality.
Single Equality and Human Rights Scheme
Durham Police Authority is committed to implementing this policy by every means possible. In anticipation of future changes to equalities law, and to meet requirements under the Human Rights Act, we developed a Single Equality and Human Rights Scheme.
The aim of our Scheme is to ensure that equality and diversity is central to the Police Authority's scrutiny role of the Police Force.
The Scheme is formally monitored and developed through the Authority’s Human Resources Sub-Committee. The scheme will be updated following the Police Authority's next Human Rights Sub-Committee in February 2012 to reflect section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which includes a new Public Sector Equality Duty for public bodies.
Public Sector Equality Duty
Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which includes a new Public Sector Equality Duty for public bodies, replaces the separate general and specific duties relating to race, disability and sex equality and also now includes age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment more fully.
The Duty states a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:
- eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act;
- advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
- foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
The Duty helps Members of the Police Authority to shape the Authority's Single Equality and Human Rights Scheme; further amendments to the scheme will be updated following the Human Resources Sub-Committee meeting in February 2012.
Our policing governance role
Policing on a daily basis is provided by Durham Constabulary; equality data relating to the work of Durham Constabulary can be found using the links below.
All Police Authority Committees regularly scrutinise areas of the Constabulary’s work that impacts upon equality, to ensure the general and specific duties are met and to identify any gaps. The relevant papers can be found on the committee pages. Data monitored, challenged and scrutinised includes:
Information about equality and diversity within Durham Constabulary is available to download, which is located on Durham Constabulary's website. Their website in the process of being updated (new wesbite due February/March 2012), however their contact details page is available should further information be required in the meantime.
Staff currently working directly for Durham Police Authority are employees of Durham County Council. To see staff policies and procedures and other equality information on this subject please visit www.durham.gov.uk.
Our Custody Visiting scheme
Durham Police Authority runs an Independent Custody Visitor scheme, to check on the welfare and wellbeing of people held in police custody. As of January 2012 we have 28 volunteers. To find out more about the scheme please visit our Custody Visiting pages.
Engaging with diverse communities
The Authority currently engages with wide sections of the community to ensure that County Durham and Darlington are safer places to live, work and visit. Our engagement activities enable us to understand the publics' priorities and satisfaction in the local police.
Some of the engagement conducted in 2010/11 and 2011/12 was held in shopping centres and supermarkets across County Durham and Darlington, areas that directly impacted upon equality, diversity and human rights. Further engagement has taken place with communities face-to-face and electronically, which includes text message, email, social media and wesbites. All these views help to helping shape the Annual Report and Policing Plan.
The Authority also works closely with, and values the work of the Independent Advisory Groups (IAGs), consulting with IAG members in regards to policing issues for all people within our communities. The four IAGs in the policing area are:
- Disability IAG
- BME IAG
- Youth IAG
- Lesbian, gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender (LBGT) IAG
A recent development from the Disability IAG surrounded a local transport scheme developed by Durham County Council in conjunction with local partners; concern was raised for vulnerable people, including those with learning diabilities, in the policing area who could use the scheme but weren't aware of it. Members of the Authority's Human Resources Sub-Committee support the Bridge Card scheme and praised officers for their involvement in helping vulnerable people. The Authority's press release issued in December 2011 is available to view online.
The Police Authority also backs Durham Constabulary's pledge to the Mencap 10 Point Promise. The national Mencap service wants all police services to promise to stand by people with a learning disability to end hate crime. The Authority and Constabulary's joint press release is available to view online.
The Police Authority also hosted a Community Awards event, held in Durham on 1 December 2011. Nominations for the six award categories were received from people from a wide variety of backgrounds across County Durham and Darlington. Please view our Community Awards page for full details including the winners and the photo gallery of the awards evening.
Working with partners to improve outcomes for children
The Authority also fully supports the aims underpinning the Children Act 2004 by co-operating with partners to improve the outcomes for children and young people as a member of both the County Durham Children's Trust and the Darlington Children's Trust. Further details can be found on our Partners page.
For further information on our partners, please see our Useful Links section.
Get in touch
Please contact us if you have any comments on the ongoing development of Equality and Diversity within local policing, or any area on the continued development of our Single Equality and Human Rights scheme.