Agenda item

Report of the Commissioner.

Members received a report of the Commissioner regarding equalities and inclusion.

Members requested that measurements and targets be introduced to ensure they were able to monitor progress. It was suggested that benchmark data might be available from other forces (e.g. Met, Manchester, Birmingham).

It was noted by a Member that the Special Constabulary had not made the same progress as the Regular Force in recruiting BAME and female officers. The Commissioner responded to say that he thought that one of the reasons would have been because there had been a hiatus on Specials recruitment during the Covid pandemic but he confirmed that he would investigate the matter and report possible causes for this after the meeting in a note to Members 18/2021/P. He noted, however, that the Special Constabulary rely heavily on volunteers that work in the City. This pool of volunteers dwindled with people working from home in the pandemic.

The Chair of Professional Standards & Integrity noted that whilst work to improve equality & inclusion in the Force went beyond recruitment, what had been presented came as a robust and welcome start. She encouraged the Force to ensure that the whole workforce is not alienated by changes made and that these be seen as positive moves for the benefit of all, rather than isolating individual groups for special treatment.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.