Diversity in the Police Digital Conference

Tuesday 18th May 2021    (FULL DAY EVENT)

Digital Event, Broadcast Live

Key Points
  • Understand the national strategy to improve minority representation in the police from Martin Hewitt QPM, Chair of the National Police Chief Council
  • Hear from Deputy Chief Constable Julie Cooke, the NPCCs LGBT+ portfolio lead, on methods to improve LGBT+ visibility in the police, and the plan going forward
  • Share successful policies: hear from the UKs second most inclusive employer on methods proven to increase police diversity
  • Understand the root causes of disproportionality: what discourages people from a career in the police, and how can the relationship between the police and the public be improved?
Overview
Expert Speakers:

  • Martin Hewitt QPM, Chair, National Police Chiefs' Council
  • Deputy Chief Constable Julie Cooke, National LGBT+ Portfolio Lead for the NPCC, Cheshire Constabulary
  • Deputy Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine, Deputy Chief Constable, West Midlands Police
  • Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, National Disability Portfolio Lead for the NPCC, Gwent Police
  • Superintendent Sukesh Verma, Superintendent, Nottinghamshire Police
  • Andy George, President, National Black Police Association
  • Rachel Billington, Diversity and HR Lead, Metropolitan Police
  • Thomas McNeil, Strategic Adviser to the Police and Crime Commissioner, West Midlands Police
  • Superintendent Simon Nelson, President The Disabled Police Association
  • Elaine Clarke-Williams, Head of Neighbourhoods, Confidence and Equality, Greater Manchester Police
  • Jeffrey DeMarco, Research Director, NatCen
  • Barry Boffy, Head of Inclusion and Diversity British Transport Police
  • Fiona Kerr, Chief Inspector - Police Operations, Ministry of Defence Police
  • Dominique Walker, Vice Chair of the Anthony Walker Foundation and Lecturer in Police Studies, Liverpool John Moores University
  • John Nelson, Chair, National Police Autism Association
  • Christian Owens, Founding Director, Genderspace & Detective Sergeant, Merseyside Police

    The police are currently experiencing their largest recruitment drive in decades, once again putting the issue of diversity and representation in the spotlight. Diversity in the police is improving, but with BAME officers representing only 7.3% up from 6.9% the year before*, many feel it is not improving fast enough.

    With over 100,000 new recruitment applicants, the issue of creating an inclusive work environment which attracts people from all backgrounds is as important as ever. But how can the police improve their diversity if the people they’re trying to attract don’t see their communities represented in the first place?

    Join Westminster Insight’s Diversity in the Police Digital Conference where we will discussing this issue in detail with police leaders, policy makers, experts and people with lived experience. Listen to nuanced insight on the reasons for underrepresentation, successful policies put in place to improve inclusion and how to implement them, and forward looking strategies to establish fully representative police forces.

    *Home Office Police Workforce, England and Wales. 31 March 2020
Agenda
Start

09:00 - 09:15
Chair’s Opening Remarks

 

09:10 - 09:40
Keynote Address: Ensuring the Police Properly Represent their Communities

 
  • Understanding the importance of a diverse workforce from the perspective of national security
  • What has worked well so far, and how can the police improve their engagement with their communities?
  • Taking a highly proactive approach to inclusivity and building effective, long-term strategies to improve representation in the police
09:30 - 09:40 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Martin Hewitt QPM Chair, NPCC

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09:40 - 10:10
Tackling the Root Causes of Disproportionality in the Police

 
  • The importance of the police mirroring the communities they serve
  • What are the interfaces between the police and society that harm people’s trust in the police?
  • Sharing recommendations and examples of best practice that help to overcome these barriers
10:00 - 10:10 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Jeffrey DeMarco Research Director, NatCen

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10:10 - 10:20
Break

 

10:20 - 11:10
Building a more Diverse Workforce: Strategies to Improve Outreach, Recruitment and Retention

 
  • Actively recruiting more BAME staff and working with communities to create a more inclusive work culture
  • Rethinking recruitment and vetting procedures to broaden the scope and diversity of our applicants
  • Avoiding tokenism: the importance of selecting the best applicants with the right experience
   11:10 - 11:20 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Barry Boffy Head of Diversity and Inclusion, British Transport Police

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Sukesh Verma Superintendent, Nottinghamshire Police

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11:10 - 11:50
Case Study: Lessons on Improving Staff Representation from the UK’s ‘Second Most Inclusive Employer’

 
  • Addressing problems early on: analysing the structural issues which lead to underrepresentation and building public trust in the police
  • Working closely with staff networks to improve staff representation, diversity and culture
  • Accurately assessing your own teams and implementing tangible targets to benefit your workforce
11:40 - 11:50 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Vanessa Jardine Deputy Chief Constable, West Midlands Police

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Thomas McNeil Board Member & Strategic Adviser, Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner

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11:50 - 12:50
Panel Discussion: Gender Equality in Policing

 
  • Discussing the gender pay gap: identifying the obstacles women face in their career progression
  • Working closely with peer support networks to overcome these obstacles and increase the number of women in leadership roles
  • Recognising intersectionality with other vulnerable groups and the unique barriers they face
Speakers

Rachel Billington HR Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Metropolitan Police

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Fiona Kerr Chief Inspector - Police Operations, Ministry of Defence Police

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12:50 - 13:30
Break

 

13:30 - 14:30
Panel Discussion: Encouraging LGBT+ Inclusion in the Police

 
  • Hear lived experience from someone who transitioned as a police officer
  • Addressing the lack of LGBT+ visibility: how can the police raise awareness and engage with their communities better
  • Overcoming the challenges of recruitment: fostering a more inclusive culture that attracts a more diverse group of applicants 
Speakers

Julie Cooke National LGBT+ Portfolio Lead, NPCC

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Christian Owens Transgender Speaker, Founder of GenderSpace & Detective Sergeant, Merseyside Police

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14:30 - 15:30
Panel Discussion: Improving BAME Inclusion and Representation in the Police

 
  • How has the black lives matter movement impacted the relationship between the police and BAME communities?
  • How does the denial of disproportionality in the police impact recruitment, retention, and community confidence?
  • Discussing effective and progression policies, from mentoring schemes to temporary leadership roles
Speakers

Elaine Clarke-Williams Head of Neighbourhoods, Confidence and Equality

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Andy George President, National Black Police Association

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Dominique Walker Vice Chair of the Anthony Walker Foundation and Lecturer in police Studies, Liverpool John Moores University

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15:30 - 16:30
Promoting Equality of Opportunity for Disabled People Working in the Police

 
  • What are the barriers to employment for disabled people in the police?
  • Rethinking ‘operational requirements’: enabling more disabled and neurodiverse people to join the force
  • Why should we move from a medical model to a social model of disability in policing?
16:20 - 16:30 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Amanda Blakeman National Disability Portfolio Lead, NPCC

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John Nelson Chair, National Police Autism Association

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Simon Nelson President, Disabled Police Association

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16:30 - 16:45
Chair’s Closing Remarks

 
End
Speakers

Rachel Billington HR Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Metropolitan Police

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Amanda Blakeman National Disability Portfolio Lead, NPCC

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Barry Boffy Head of Diversity and Inclusion, British Transport Police

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Elaine Clarke-Williams Head of Neighbourhoods, Confidence and Equality

Read profile

Julie Cooke National LGBT+ Portfolio Lead, NPCC

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Jeffrey DeMarco Research Director, NatCen

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Andy George President, National Black Police Association

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Martin Hewitt QPM Chair, NPCC

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Vanessa Jardine Deputy Chief Constable, West Midlands Police

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Fiona Kerr Chief Inspector - Police Operations, Ministry of Defence Police

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Thomas McNeil Board Member & Strategic Adviser, Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner

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Simon Nelson President, Disabled Police Association

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John Nelson Chair, National Police Autism Association

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Christian Owens Transgender Speaker, Founder of GenderSpace & Detective Sergeant, Merseyside Police

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Sukesh Verma Superintendent, Nottinghamshire Police

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Dominique Walker Vice Chair of the Anthony Walker Foundation and Lecturer in police Studies, Liverpool John Moores University

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Venue details

Digital Event Broadcast Live

Speakers
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