Police's diversity programme 'not transparent'

A Thames Valley Police (TVP) diversity programme that saw three white officers discriminated against was "not properly consulted upon or transparent in how it was managed", a review concluded.

Kerrin Wilson, a former chief constable of Lincolnshire Police, led work into what went wrong before the force lost an employment tribunal in August.

Mrs Wilson found the impact of the case across TVP was "significant" and had led to some officers from an ethnic minority background feeling marginalised.

Police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber commissioned the review in October said the report is "clear that the leadership of TVP advocates for equality in all its forms".

An employment judge ruled last year that a superintendent was told to help improve diversity amongst the force's senior staff by appointing a sergeant from an Asian background to the rank of detective inspector.

The employment tribunal heard three members of staff, who had worked for TVP for between 19 and 26 years, were blocked from applying for the detective inspector role in Aylesbury in 2022.

But a decision was made to move an officer into the role without undertaking any competitive process or advertising the vacancy to staff, the tribunal was told.

Mrs Wilson, who retired in 2022 after 30 years in policing, found the way the Positive Action Progression Programme (PAPP) operated "led to parts of [TVP] feeling excluded".

Her report makes 51 recommendations but she said that number is not reflective of the force's overall effectiveness.

She said TVP was initially "slow to understand and acknowledge the depth of concern" amongst staff after the employment tribunal concluded but there were no concerns about senior leaders' conduct regarding the case.

"The findings show that mistakes were made and that there was a lack of consistency, information and inclusion in the way policies were applied, leaving parts of the organisation feeling left out and overlooked," Mr Barber said.

"Due regard should be given to all staff. A wide range of recommendations focuses on key areas of central oversight, training, better alignment with relevant bodies, internal communications, internal recruitment and career advancement programmes. These, if implemented, will go a long way to address the issues identified."

TVP's chief constable Jason Hogg said: "[The force] takes these recommendations seriously and will use them as it seeks to improve.

"I am also pleased that the report recognises that Thames Valley Police is an organisation that has 'wonderful people with passion and ways of working that deliver excellent policing for its communities' and that the force is effective in tackling crime and supporting those most vulnerable."

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