Meeting the Equality Duty

The Equality Act 2010 replaces previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act. It simplifies the law, removing inconsistencies and making it easier for people to understand and comply with it. It also strengthens the law in important ways, to help tackle dicrimination and inequality.

Promoting equality, diversity and human rights and respecting and embracing difference in all its many forms is a fundamental aspect of local policing and key to creating greater public confidence and trust in the police service. If these basic aspects are not in place then the trust and confidence of communities, which the service needs in order to police by consent, will not be there. The business case is clear – no one in our society – no matter which difference they may have – should be discriminated against.

The Police Authority has a dual role in promoting equality, diversity and human rights. Firstly it has a critical role to play in meeting the requirements set out in the Equality Act 2010 but it must also ensure that it holds the Chief Constable of Humberside Police to account through the effective oversight and scrutiny of the way in which the Force meets their statutory and moral obligations.

Click here to view the Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Action Plan, which illustrates how the Police Authority are meeting the three main aims of the Equality Act, to have due regard to:

1. Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited in the Act;
2. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it; and
3. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

To view the Police Authority's new Equality Objectives for 2011-15 click here.