Equality and Diversity
Sussex Police is committed to promoting equality and respect for diversity in the way it serves Sussex in delivering policing and also as an employer.
In 2009 we published our Single Equality Scheme. This is a public commitment demonstrating how Sussex Police intends to meet the duties placed on it by equality legislation. Those duties address institutional and systematic inequalities affecting certain groups of people. This scheme enables us to engage with both the new national equality standard for the police service, as well as any obligations placed on us by the 2010 Equality Bill.
The Single Equality Scheme is based around 7 strands; Age, Disability, Faith and Belief, Gender and Transgender, Gypsies and Travellers, Race and Sexual Orientation. Sussex Police has made a clear decision to go beyond the general and specific duties to promote equality in the areas of disability, gender and race by adding areas of age, religion or belief and sexual orientation. Progress with the equality scheme will be reported annually.
The equality scheme supports 'Serving Sussex'; the clear vision of what Sussex Police does, in addition to sitting alongside the Local Policing Plan which sets out the strategic direction for Sussex Police over the next 3 years.
Download document: The Sussex Police Equality Scheme
To view and download latest statistical data, tables and charts: click here for our Equality Analysis pages.
Strategic Independent Advisory Group
The Sussex Police Strategic Independent Advisory Group (SIAG), which meets on a regular basis is administered by the Diversity Team. SIAG provides community perspective and advice on the development and delivery of our services. Across Sussex, each division has its own Independent Advisory Group (IAG). This enables us to understand the differing effects local policing can have on various communities and in so doing helps us develop and operate policies and practices that do not exclude, discriminate or have an unjustifiable adverse impact on any particular community.
Equality Champions
In 2007 we formed a core of senior police officers and police staff as Equality Champions. Emulating, and sometimes exceeding, the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) 'Equality, diversity and human rights' Business Area, our equality champions ensure the Force is well positioned to identify national good practice together with policy and legislative developments at the earliest possible stage.
The Equality Champions make a positive contribution through organisational and community reference groups, where views can be aired on how service delivery and employment policy impacts in practice. The feedback from the many groups now follows a clearly defined road map which, as intended from the outset, enables our key decision makers to respond to issues drawn to their attention by the Equality Champions.
Our Equality Champions cover the portfolios of Age, Disability, Faith and Belief, Gender and Transgender, Gypsies and Travellers, Race and Sexual Orientation.
You can contact the Diversity Team at the following telephone numbers and email addresses:
Force Diversity Manager David Tonkin 01273 404754
Email: david.tonkin@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Equality & Diversity Liaison Officer Geoff Foster 01273 404730
Email: geoff.foster@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Diversity Team Support Officer Shannon Marchesani 101
Email: shannon.marchesani@sussex.pnn.police.uk
Alternatively you can write to us at:
The Diversity Team, Sussex Police Headquarters, Citizen Focus and Diversity Branch, Corporate Development Department, Malling House, Church Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2DZ