New guidance to tackle 'discrimination' culture

BRITAIN'S human rights watchdog has published new guidance to tackle what it described as “entrenched” discrimination and sexual harassment within the armed forces, police and other emergency services.

- ROSIE SHEAD

Launched by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) yesterday, the guidance aims to help the armed forces, police, fire and rescue services improve their collection and analysis of workforce equality data, which the commission says is the first step in tackling cultures of harassment and discrimination.

Improving the data will help organisations’ managers and leaders better understand the makeup of their employees and drive culture change, including creating safer work environments and informing targeted anti-harassment policies as well as improving retention, recruitment and the employers’ reputations, the EHRC said.

The watchdog highlighted a 2023 report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services which found many police and fire services lacked an understanding of their equality data and of the diversity of their staff at all levels which it said meant the organisations were not clear on what action was needed to improve the diversity of their workforces.