The University of Staffordshire and its partner police forces have a strong commitment to promoting equality and diversity within their organisations. We recognise that a diverse workforce is essential to providing effective and culturally sensitive services to the public.
The University and the police forces work together to promote equality and diversity through a range of initiatives. These include training programmes for staff, outreach programmes to underrepresented communities, and the development of policies and procedures that promote equal treatment and opportunity.
One example of the University and police forces' commitment to equality and diversity is their joint work on the degree-level police education framework (formerly known as the Police Education Qualification Framework - PEQF). This initiative aims to improve the education and training of police officers and staff to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver effective and inclusive policing services.
The framework includes a focus on diversity and inclusion, ensuring that police officers and staff have a good understanding of the needs and experiences of all members of the community. The framework also includes training on unconscious bias, enabling officers and staff to identify and challenge their own biases and promote fairness and equal treatment.
The University and police forces also work together to develop outreach programs that aim to engage with underrepresented communities. For example, the "Positive Action" program aims to encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, such as women and ethnic minorities.
In addition, the University and police forces have developed policies and procedures that promote equality and diversity in recruitment, selection, and promotion. These include policies on equal opportunities, diversity monitoring, and positive action.
The University and police forces' commitment to equality and diversity is also reflected in their engagement with external organisations and initiatives. For example, they work closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Race Equality Foundation, and other groups to promote good practice and develop new initiatives.