5.11 PM Wednesday 19 June 2013

Equality Act

The Equality Act streamlines nine existing pieces of legislation including those pertaining to race, gender and disability into one Act.  The legislation has been extended to cover the ‘protected characteristics’ of:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender Reassignment
  • Marriage or Civil Partnership
  • Pregnancy and Maternity
  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual Orientation

 

From 5 April 2011 the General Equality Duty will require Dorset Police in the exercise of its functions, to have due regard to the need to:

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
  • Advance equality of opportunity
  • Foster good relations

 

The Equality Act (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011 came into force on 10 September 2011.  These regulations require public bodies such as Dorset Police to:

  • Publish information to demonstrate compliance with the public sector equality duty not later than 31 January 2012; and subsequently at intervals of not greater than one year beginning with the date of last publication. The information must include, in particular, information relating to persons who share a relevant protected characteristic who are:

 

(a)  Employees;
(b)  Other persons affected by its policies and practices.

 

ArrowTo access our Equality Performance information, please follow this link >

 

  • Prepare and publish one or more specific and measurable objectives which will further the three arms of the Equality Duty.  The objectives must be published:

 

(a)  Not later than 6 April 2012; and
(b)  Subsequently at intervals of not greater than four years beginning with the date of last publication.

 

ArrowTo view our Equality Objectives, please follow this link

 

  • Publish this information in such a manner that the information is accessible to the public.  The information can be published within another document.