Equality and diversity
Our country is a rich and diverse one. It's made up of many different communities. They bring a wide range of skills, experiences and cultures. This effects the way in which we live and work.
Changes in workforce laws have helped raise awareness of prejudice and unfairness. They have improved equality and diversity issues across Scotland.
Ongoing changes in the workplace and improvements in society have also helped to provide representation. There are more voices from many different groups to make a real difference.
Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority want to be an employer which values its different communities.
They want to have respect for diversity, challenges prejudice and discrimination and support justice and equality for all.
As a result, we are committed to mainstreaming equality across policing in Scotland.
This is done by merging equality and diversity into our approach to people management, development and business planning.
This will ensure that the equality implications of our day to day decision making are considered.
This will be alongside all other factors when maintaining policing, promoting policing principles, delivering continuous improvement and holding the Chief Constable to account.
The Equality Act 2010 sets out nine protected characteristics under which protection and redress are afforded. These are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation.
Scottish Ministers introduced regulations in May 2012 placing specific duties on Scotland’s public authorities.
These are known as the Scottish Specific Duties. They include:
- Duty to report progress on mainstreaming the equality duty
- Duty to publish equality outcomes and report progress
- Duty to assess and review policies and practices
- Duty to gather and use employee information
- Duty to publish gender pay gap information
- Duty to publish statements on equal pay, etc.
- Duty to consider award criteria and conditions in relation to public procurement
- Duty to publish in a manner that is accessible, etc.
This page will be used to provide updates on these duties.
It will also give updates on other specific pieces of work and activities being undertaken to promote equality and diversity throughout the service.
Related Documents
To view the Policing Plans and Policing Strategies visit the Strategic Planning page.
