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Campaign launched to encourage ethnic minorities to join Essex Police

Essex Police has launched a new campaign to increase the number of black, Asian and minority ethnic officers.

Chief Constable BJ Harrington says “urgent action” is needed to ensure the police force represents the people they are serving. He added they had done “too little for too long” to recruit people from a more diverse background.

“What’s important is policing in this country is done with consent We really believe we police with the consent of our communities in Essex. That means making the sure representatives from BAME communities form a real part of our force. If different communities feel they have a stake in Essex Police, it helps make us legitimate to them so that we can provide the best service possible.”

Currently, just over 2% of officers in Essex identify as BAME, despite minor ethnicities representing 7% of the total population in Essex. CC Harrington thinks this might be because some people feel they would not be welcome in the force.

“Policing is not the same across the world, in many other countries police may not be held in such high esteem. There is a bit of a misconception that if you’re not a stereotypical white Essex man, you’re not gonna be accepted. That’s far from the truth.

Essex Police wants people from different backgrounds to consider working for the county, telling them it is a challenging but rewarding career.

“We give support to any candidate who approaches,” said Mr Harrington. “When they come into training, having met all the same standards any officer does, we give them a mentor to answer their questions.

“Diversity provides different thoughts and opinions which allows us to better serve the public. People who can understand particular issues for people from different heritages, faiths or genders are really useful.”

“Policing is for all backgrounds and all walks of life, an endeavor for brain and body. If you care about your community, if you want to make a difference, if you want to protect the vulnerable and take bad people off the streets, then join us.”

The campaign includes a series of online videos featuring ethnically diverse police officers carrying out everyday policing duties. Several officers also discuss their experiences of working for the force, the barriers that can exist between their communities and the police, and the importance of recruiting more colleagues from the many diverse communities of Essex.

“Breaking down barriers requires contact, togetherness, and understanding, these cannot be achieved by isolation,” said retired former Chief Superintendent Win Bernard, who served with Essex Police for more than 30 years.

There are also a number of support networks available to staff, including the Women’s Leadership Development Forum, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Network, the Minority Ethnic Support Association (MESA) and many more.

The Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, is backing the campaign and said: “A diverse workforce brings different knowledge and expertise and builds stronger relationships with communities, enabling it to serve and protect them more effectively.”

New constables will start on a salary of £24,518 with the potential to rise to £41,150 within your first seven years.

If you would like to find out more, go to www.essex.police.uk/diversityinpolicing/

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