Cheshire Police have been shortlisted for a national award for attracting a diverse workforce.
The constabulary’s insight programme which is designed to ensure that the force attracts recruits from across all communities, including the black and minority and the gay and lesbian communities, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2016 Business in the Community race equality awards.
It was developed in response to the force’s concern that it did not employ enough black and minority officers.
The scheme was launched in February this year, and gives potential recruits from communities covered by the equality act an insight into the constabulary and its recruitment processes.
By opening up the force, Cheshire has already more than doubled its number of black and minority ethnic (BME) applicants, and recruited a number of new officers from across Cheshire’s communities.
The Guardian has also announced the Constabulary has been shortlisted for its Public Service of the Year awards.
The winner for the Business in the Community race equality awards will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on Tuesday, November 29.
Chief constable Simon Byrne said: “It’s a core feature of British policing that we ‘police by consent’ – and to do this our officers must reflect the communities we serve.
“That’s why I am delighted to see the impact this programme is having in attracting new talent who will soon be policing our neighbourhoods.
“I’ve been desperately keen to see the insight programme succeed in attracting able, talented people from across all of our communities, and I welcome the recognition it is receiving nationally from both the business community and national media.”
Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane said: “Ensuring that the Constabulary has a diverse and inclusive police service for Cheshire is something I feel passionately about and so, like the chief constable, I am pleased to see the work of the insight programme beginning to have a positive impact.
“It’s also very pleasing to see that the programme is getting recognition on a national level, highlighting the commitment to a diverse workforce for our police service.”
