Our vision is for South Wales Police ‘to be the best at understanding and responding to our communities’ needs’. We know that this cannot be achieved without prioritising equality and diversity and working to achieve real outcomes.
We acknowledge that there is always much more to do in order that everyone in South Wales can live free from discrimination, harassment, inequality and disadvantage. We hope that our Equality Action Plan will bring us closer to our vision by building on the progress already achieved in promoting equality and diversity.
Joint Equality Plan
‘ The Commissioner’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2024-2027 is pending and due to be launched Spring 2024. This document will set out our plans to ensure that equality is given the focus it needs and that progress is continually monitored. The equality objectives contained in this Equality Action Plan are those we have chosen as the key areas we need to pursue to meet our aims under the General Duty, Equality Act 2010. They have also been identified in consultation with representative organisations.
The Equality Act
The Police and Crime Commissioner works to ensure that those who work or interact with us or South Wales Police, are treated fairly and with respect and that they are not discriminated against because of any of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. These include:
- Age
- Disability (including physical, mental, sensory and learning disabilities)
- Gender Reassignment
- Marriage or Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy and Maternity
- Race (including race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin)
- Religion and belief
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
When carrying out his role, the Commissioner and South Wales Police must also have due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited under the Act,
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and people who do not share it,
- Foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
Equality and Inclusion – Priority Areas
Some of the other priority areas of focus regarding equality and inclusion for the Commissioner and his team are:
- Encouraging diversity into South Wales Police
- Encouraging Hate Crime reporting and victim satisfaction
- Monitoring stop & search use and telling the public about stop search
- Encouraging use of the Keep Safe Cymru Scheme (for people with specific communication needs)
- Engaging with the public
Criminal Justice Anti-Racism Action Plan for Wales
On the 8th September 2022, the Criminal Justice Board for Wales published their Anti-Racism Action Plan. The plan outlines the determination of partners across Wales to do all they can, individually and collectively to root out any racism across the Justice System in Wales.
“Welsh Language Act and Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011
The Police and Crime Commissioner and the team works to ensure that Welsh language is given equal status with the English language in all areas of work and welcomes communication from the public in both Welsh and English. The Police and Crime Commissioner and the team are fully committed to raising the profile of the Welsh Language and ensure they are compliant with the Welsh Language Standards in the following areas:
• Service delivery
• Policy making
• Formulating new policy
• Operational
• Promotion
• Record keeping”