Archived decisions

GENDER EQUALITY SCHEME

1. The Authority has published its Gender Equality Scheme in accordance with Equality Act 2006 which places a statutory duty on all public authorities, when carrying out their functions to have due regard to the need to :-

· Eliminate unlawful sex discrimination and harassment; and


· Promote equality of opportunity between men and women.

2. The Authority, through its Gender Equality Scheme will:-

· Demonstrate its commitment to gender equality by putting in place arrangement which will seek to ensure that everyone, regardless of their gender, and whether working for, affected by or receiving services from the Authority, perceive their experiences with the Authority to be fair, equitable and non-discriminatory. This includes residents and people who work in the two counties, visitors, community organisations, staff, suppliers, partners and those serving in the Hampshire Constabulary;


· Demonstrate how the Hampshire Police Authority will promote equality of opportunity with its work with Hampshire Constabulary. Many more people are directly affected by the work carried out by the Constabulary than the Authority. The Authority, in its Scheme, will hold the Constabulary to account for the delivery of a policing service for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Scheme will set out how it will ensure the Constabulary delivers on the actions and performance outlined in its Gender Equality Scheme;


· Demonstrate how the Authority will work with and influence others to promote gender equality. The Authority works with a range of partners outside the Constabulary. It works particularly closely with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, Local Authorities, Independent Custody Visitors and other voluntary and statutory bodies.

3. The Authority will receive a full report on the progress of this new Scheme on an annual basis following 30 April 2008 and the Scheme has also been published on the Authority's website at www.hantspa.org.

4. In addition to meeting the general and specific duties in relation to the Police Authority's own functions / policies and staff, it also has a duty to ensure that the Force meets those same duties. Therefore, the Authority will monitor and scrutinise the arrangements made by Hampshire Constabulary to meet the duties and this will be done by regular progress reports to the Authority or one of its Committees.