Staffordshire Police has been named as the UK’s ‘most gay-friendly employer’ by the gay equality organisation Stonewall.

In Stonewall’s 2006 Workplace Equality Index, the force is listed as the country’s best place to work for lesbian and gay people. Second place goes to IBM, with third shared by the Department for Work and Pensions and Manchester City Council.

The force scored full marks against many of the 20 stringent assessment criteria, which cover issues including:
- recruitment and retention of gay staff
- policies and practices
- employee engagement in the organisation
- training, development and support.

The index includes eight FTSE-100 companies and 11 government departments.

Chief Constable John Giffard said: “I’m delighted with our number one ranking. I hope it sends a very positive message to people interested in working for us, and to those we’re here to police. Being a better employer for gay people and other minority groups means we can deliver a better service to Staffordshire’s many different communities.

“In the last five or six years we’ve worked hard to develop meaningful diversity policies and support networks, and strong links with local gay organisations. We have a staff association which is dedicated to looking after the interests of lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.

“A decade ago, such efforts and initiatives wouldn’t have seen the light of day. You might have found reference to ‘diversity’ in the footnote of a policy, but probably not policies dedicated to the issue itself.

“Attitudes and behaviours within the organisation towards all minorities have changed dramatically, and I’m confident that gay people who contact us as victims would recount big changes for the better in our operational approach.

“At the end of the day we want to create an environment in which all our staff can feel safe and comfortable, and an organisation which reflects the differences and diversity in the communities we’re here to serve.”

PC Darren Oakey, one of the force’s hate crime officers, added: “Many people, gay and straight, still don't acknowledge that gay people work in the police service, but they do. They're on the front line tackling serious crime.

“We’re proud of the changes we have made within the force, and to how we liaise and work with Staffordshire’s gay groups and communities. The ways in which we monitor issues related to sexuality are now much more sophisticated, as are the approaches and methods we adopt in tackling all types of sexuality-related crime.

“It’s incredibly important to us to get this recognition from Stonewall. Our position in the Workplace Equality Index is clear evidence of Staffordshire Police’s respect for diversity issues.”

Stephen Frost, Stonewall’s Director of Workplace programmes, said: “We know that the 1.7 million gay staff in the UK workforce are increasingly keen to choose gay-friendly employers. Staffordshire is one of a number of police forces across the country making increasing efforts to appeal to lesbian and gay recruits. There isn’t necessarily a stereotypically ‘gay-friendly’ employer any more.”

Staffordshire Police spearheaded ‘True Vision’, the hate-crime reporting and public reassurance project, which has now been rolled out to more than 80 per cent of police forces in England and Wales. Endorsed by the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and police authorities, the self-reporting packs come in two formats. One targets victims of racist and religious hate crime, the other is for those who experience homophobic or transphobic crime.

The initiative informs hate crime victims about where they can get help and their options to report crime. Packs have gone to libraries, police stations, youth centres, places of worship and pubs and clubs across the country. Many local education authorities have introduced True Vision into schools.

I dont care who they are or what they do as long as they can do the job. I dont believe anyone can be given special treatment due to sexuality, race, religion etc etc. Look at affirmative action in the states look at how that made alot of US forces a shambles

with Sarge, but sadly I do think things have changed and there is positive discrimination towards ethnic, gays....lesbians etc. Its not the way it should be but its happening more and more!!

PC I hate it I hate it I hate it! AGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!