The Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) has released a film to promote the importance of diversity within policing. Watch the film above.

The film, entitled ‘Together we’re different, as one we serve’, features members of the PSA from all backgrounds reciting the policing oath. Policing partners are being encouraged to share the film, along with their own examples of diversity within their organisations, using the hashtag #AsOneWeServe.

The PSA is committed to improving and enhancing diversity and equality across the Police Service through its ‘Valuing Difference’ work.

Latest figures show that although diversity within policing is improving, there is still significant work required to ensure the workforce reflects the UK population.  Home Office data to March 2019 reveals that just 7% of the police workforce are from a BAME background compared with 14% of the UK population and that just 30.4% are women.*

Figures around disabled officers and staff and those from the LGBT+ community remain unclear, but within the PSA’s membership of almost 1300 Superintendents and Chief Superintendents, just 18 declare a disability.

Diversity within senior ranks is also limited. Nationally, just 4% of senior police officers are from a BAME background.*

To respond to this issue, the PSA launched a Coaching and Mentoring Programme in collaboration with the College of Policing last year. The programme provides training to leaders in becoming a coach or mentor, who in turn offer informal, flexible support to colleagues of all ranks and grades to support their personal and professional development.

Every of the 770+ trained coaches and mentors commit to providing support to at least three colleagues from under-represented groups, and to date, 60% of beneficiaries have been female and 25% from a BAME background.

In addition, the PSA’s policy-making body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), includes four reserved seats for members representing BAME, gender, LGBT+ and disability to enable the association to have a clear understanding of issues affecting these community groups.

President Paul Griffiths confirms, “We’re really passionate our work to enhance the diversity of our workforce and this video is all about showing that regardless of background, ethnicity or gender, we are a Service that is united in our passion and pride for policing.

“For a long time, the police service has been criticised for failing to represent the communities it serves and for making mistakes in understanding the rich and diverse groups that make up our communities and our workforce. Huge progress has been made but we are still a long way from reaching a point where we can honestly say we’re getting this right.

“We police by consent.  The public need to trust us and have confidence in the service we provide.  This can only happen when they see a police service that mirrors their community and understands their culture, lifestyle and the challenges they face.

“We’re getting great feedback from those who have participated in our Coaching and Mentoring programme and our NEC reserve members give us such valuable insight into the issues affected our under represented colleagues across the Service.

“As we look to recruit more officers than ever before as part of the Government’s uplift programme, whilst also retaining the diverse talent within our ranks, the Association will do it all it can to use this learning and evidence to help enhance the difference within our Service.”