Equality Act 2010

Equality Objectives

Claire Brown-Allan

Head of Profession – Neighbourhoods, Confidence and Equality

Equality Act 2010• Consolidates over 30 years of equality

legislation – standardizes and equalizes• Most provisions came into force 1st Oct

2010 – protection against discrimination with regard to “goods and services” and employment

• New “single” Public Sector Equality Duty – 5th April 2011

• 2 Specific Duties – publishing duty (31st January 2012) and equality objectives (5th April 2012)

Public Sector Equality Duty

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 the Equality Act 2010;

Public Sector Equality Duty

• Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;

Public Sector Equality Duty

• Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

Specific Duty – Equality Objectives

• Potential equality objectives identified by benchmarking the Force against the National Equality Standard for the Police Service.

• Police Authority organised community engagement events.

• Communities’ priorities identified and incorporated into finalised objectives.

Specific Duty – Equality Objectives

• 1st April 2012 – 5 equality objectives set.

• Integrated into the Force’s Policing Plan for 2012/13.

• Last for 4 years.• Published on the Force’s website.• PCC may wish to review and

identify further equality objectives.

GMP’s 5 Equality Objectives

1. We will work with communities and partners to improve our response to hate crime.

2. We will work with local community organisations to improve our services.

GMP’s 5 Equality Objectives

3. We will be transparent about how we deal with people, including those who are searched or arrested.

4. We will develop our understanding of the communities we serve, and how our activities may affect them.

GMP’s 5 Equality Objectives

5. We will be transparent about what we are doing to support and develop the people who work and volunteer for us.

Any questions?