Diversity and inclusion

ANALYSIS: As events get underway around the world to mark International Women’s Day – with a theme of ‘Gender equality today, for a sustainable tomorrow’ – Dr Sarah Jane Fox of the University of Leicester looks at the continuing efforts to accelerate women’s equality both in policing and wider society, and the challenges and barriers that still remain.

ANALYSIS: While recruitment and retention challenges have been the focus for many police forces around the world, the lack of female representation in US law enforcement has become a mounting concern; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend spoke to current and former officers as well as other criminal justice stakeholders working hard – and in many cases drawing on their own experiences – to address that gender imbalance.

OPINION: In a week which marks the anniversary of the publication of the Macpherson Report, West Midlands Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward shares an insight into personal responses to racism, and argues that unless policing can accept it has treated some communities less favourably than others, those communities will have no reason to co-operate with the service – a vicious cycle that threatens police legitimacy.

OPINION: Against the backdrop of the many recent debates about negative cultures in UK policing, Disabled Police Association President Simon Nelson argues that it is down to leadership to set the tone for an acceptable workplace culture – but all of us have role to play in ending institutional discrimination and building successful, supportive teams.

OPINION: After a recent IOPC report highlighted racism, misogyny and bullying behaviour by a group of officers at one Met Police station, Policing Insight contributor Gareth Bryon – an executive coach and leadership mentor as well as former senior officer – argues that leading culture change is everyone’s responsibility, that leadership is not the preserve of senior officers alone, and that the service has been let down by officers at every level.

OPINION: Police officers often deal with deaths and suicides by detaching and ‘normalizing’ distressing situations, but for former Queensland Far North Sgt Matthew Moloney, the suicide of someone he knew from the local Indigenous community prompted him to embark on an educational and research journey in an effort to change things for the better [WARNING: the article contains a graphic description of suicide that some readers may find distressing].

FEATURE: Continuing a new series of The Police Student, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly explores the challenges around policing a diverse society, including the issue of institutional racism, the police use of stop and search, and the implications of the latest rulings in relation to hate crimes and free speech.

OPINION: In the latest in his series of regular articles intended to generate discussion and awareness of what it is like to live with a range of conditions that fall under the banner of ‘disabilities’, Superintendent Simon Nelson, President of the Disabled Police Association, urges leaders and colleagues to celebrate Disabled History Month by offering support and respect to those managing disabling conditions, whether hidden or otherwise.

OPINION: While policing in the UK has made steps towards improving gender inclusion, the primary carer role often taken on by women means many are forced to sacrifice their careers because of a lack of flexibility in the workplace; Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Superintendent Jim Gale believes a more sensible approach to part-time and hybrid working and increased opportunities for job sharing could help the service improve female inclusion at all ranks.

FEATURE: While the Met Police’s performance in relation to violence against women, misogyny and sexual abuse have come under close scrutiny and prompted a high-profile inquiry, a project to improve working conditions for women and parents and deliver a cultural change within the force in relation to family friendly employment practices is already reaping rewards, as Policing Insight’s Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons reports.

OPINION: A recent College of Policing report on workplace adjustments enabling officers and staff with disability and neurodiversity issues to make the best possible contribution to policing has highlighted significant improvements over recent years; but as Detective Inspector Jamie Mills, Chair of Essex Police Disability and Carers network explains, the report also underlines that there is much more to be done – and chief officer commitment is crucial.

OPINION: The wide-ranging debate about responses to violence against women in Australia has included proposals for all women police stations; but researchers Dr Amanda Porter (University of Melbourne), journalist Ann Deslandes, Dr Crystal McKinnon (RMIT University) and Dr Marlene Longbottom (University of Wollongong) believe such a move is likely to be ineffective in addressing the real issues, particularly for females in Indigenous communities.

FEATURE: Continuing a new series of The Police Student, Policing Insight Academic Editor Dr Carina O’Reilly takes a closer look at the key debates concerning police culture and identity, and explores issues around police legitimacy, the problems of machismo and racial prejudice, whether officers are born or made, and the crucial role current students have to play in the evolution of modern policing culture.

ANALYSIS: Recent upward trends in the size of the police workforce are welcome, but bring potential issues to be addressed down the line; in the latest in his series examining workforce changes, Ian Wiggett flags up how new training needs will emerge, why development opportunities are unlikely to keep pace with demand and ambitions – and that it really is true, officers are, indeed, getting younger.

Police Supers Conference 2021: Whilst the number of Black, Minority and Ethnic officers joining the police service is improving, the number in senior positions remains low at 4.3 per cent. This year’s Police Superintendents' Association Conference explored how representation in the senior ranks could be improved and how things might be about to change. Tina Orr Munro reports.

Interview: Transferring into An Garda Síochána from Toronto Police, Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon wondered how she would be received as 'an outsider' implementing their reform programme. She needn't have worried. Here she tells Policing Insight's Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons about the warm welcome she's received, her frustrations at COVID restrictions limiting her walks on the beat and how the culturally rich policing style has her smitten.

opinion: Promoting a single equality cause as overtly as this week's pictures of the LGBT rainbow emblem on police liveried vehicles could inadvertently discriminate against other protected groups, argues Evan Morris, Vice Chairman of the National Association of Police Fire and Crime Panels

OPINION: In the latest in his series of bi-monthly articles, Superintendent Simon Nelson, President of the Disabled Police Association, looks at the importance of creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment within policing, which enables those with a disability to share their identity of living with those conditions, and ensure that forces make best use of the extensive skillsets that people have to offer.

FEATURE: When the Swedish Police launched a recruitment drive to employ more than 6,000 additional officers by 2022, the challenges included ‘no show’ applicants, unsuitable candidates and concerns over diversity; by adopting a data-driven approach to the issues, they have been able to adopt new ways of working that have improved the application process and kept them on track for their ambitious target, as Policing Insight Contributing Editor Tina Orr Munro reports. 

OPINION: Policing, like much of the public sector, is based on a legacy structure, with leaders progressing through the ranks; but Devon and Cornwall Chief Inspector Steve Lenney wonders what would happen if visionary private-sector leaders saw an opportunity to deliver improved policing services and make a profit?

INTERVIEW: After 38 years in the police service, British Transport Police Temporary Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock is shortly due to retire, having become the only openly gay male police officer to lead a UK force; he spoke to Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons about his fears when he first joined the job, the progress policing has made on diversity, and the challenges that still need to be tackled.

OPINION: As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, former police officer Dr Sarah Jane Fox, now a member of the Institute of Policing at Staffordshire University, highlights the key role that women already play in policing – and the efforts to address the gender imbalance in police services around the globe, as well as in wider society.

FEATURE: Gender diversity in armed policing is under renewed focus at a national level, so it was timely for this topic to be the subject of a @WeCops debate earlier this year: Superintendent Andrea Quinton of the North West Armed Policing Collaboration and DCI Ops Pip Taylor, Tactical Firearms Commander for Sussex and Surrey Police, hosted the debate, and compiled this round-up from the evening’s key comments and questions.

INTERVIEW: An Garda Síochána's new Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon welcomes the extra scrutiny she will attract as an outsider joining the top team of the force from Toronto next month. Policing Insight Deputy Editor Sarah Gibbons talked to her about her role and how her change management experience and ability to think differently stand to benefit her new colleagues and the Irish community.