Positive action

Positive action helps ensure fair access to employment and development opportunities. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers can offer additional support such as tailored training or open days to candidates from under-represented or disadvantaged groups, without unlawfully discriminating.

It does not involve preferential hiring based on gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation which is instead known as positive discrimination. Please see more information under section 5 of positive action in the workplace.

Who it applies to

Positive action is applicable to those with a protected characteristic who are disproportionately under-represented or, suffer some sort of disadvantage because of their protected characteristic.

The following protected characteristics are listed under the Equality Act 2010:

• Age

• Disability

• Gender reassignment

• Marriage and civil partnership

• Pregnancy and maternity

• Race

• Religion or religious belief

• Sex

• Sexual orientation

Our aim

Our aim is to recruit talented people with a range of skills and experiences to make a real difference to the diverse communities that we serve.

Recruiting from the widest pool of people will mean that we recruit individuals who can speak other languages, understand other cultural and minority groups, different lifestyles, religions and beliefs and are willing to use those skills to the benefit of the community and the organisation.

A more diverse workforce will build trust and confidence across communities, improve engagement and sharing of information and provide both officers and staff with the skills to deliver a more confident and professional service.

Nottinghamshire Police is currently under-represented from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds including Eastern European and Chinese communities, those with a disability, women and those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

We are keen to encourage applications from these groups and to support them where we can through the process.

Our diversity strategy

We are committed to providing the highest standards of service delivery, decision making and employment practice to ensure that every member of the community, along with our officers, staff and volunteers who serve them, are treated with dignity and respect.

To achieve this, we must ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities that we serve therefore we will demonstrate positive action to recruit, retain and develop our employees.

Our support networks

We are proud of our diversity, equality and inclusion network as well as the individual networks that have been formed to support, assist and guide our officers and staff with both professional and personal issues they face.

Our support networks have been developed to ensure that Nottinghamshire Police promotes a working environment which includes and values all individuals.

Within Nottinghamshire Police, these are just some of the networks available to join to support you in your career with us:

• Association of Muslim Police

• Black Police Association

• Christian Police Association

• Gypsy Roma Traveller Association

• LGBTQ+ Network

• Neurodiversity Group

• Romanian Police Association

• Women of Colour in Policing

• Women’s Network