Essex Police have had a LGBTQ+ network in one form or another since 1996. Almost three decades later, officers and staff continue to provide support for those in the LGBTQ+ community, raise awareness of issues being faced both inside and outside the force, influence internal policy and advise colleagues on dealing with hate crime in the community.
As a Network we accept all areas of the LGBTQ+ community, whether you identify under one of the letters, are an ally, or would appreciate help in understanding and assisting members of the community in your personal or professional life.
The LGBTQ+ Network is run by volunteers within Essex Police who give their time to attend events such as Pride’s across the county, support colleagues and create informative content internally for colleagues to learn about the community. The Executive Boards is run by a mixture of operational police officers, support staff, special constables and volunteers – collectively we try to cover a wide range of departmental areas of the force. Each member is assigned an area and a Diversity, Equality and Inclusivity board to work with and represent across the force.
The LGBTQ+ network is arguably the most active staff within Essex Police hosting annual awareness events for LGBT+ History Month, IDAHOBIT, Trans Awareness Week. The Network also encourages members to join with the Chief Constable in raising the Progress Pride flag at HQ and across stations for awareness days, Pride, and other days of remembrance etc. Our Communications and Media SPOC creates a quarterly newsletter with everything the network has been upto, encouraging engagement with members with things like our queer culture corner, book and film club and reviews of varying LGBTQ+ based arts and entertainment on top of history and information for our members to consume. Policing is not always the easiest to connect with timeline wise due to shifts and staggered working hours and locations so as a Network we endeavour to visit as many stations each year as well as HQ to hold events and connect with officers.
The Networks aims are simple:
• We want to make sure that, regardless of sexual preferences or gender identity, there are equal rights in the force for those from the LGBTQ+ community as there are for our cisgender and heterosexual colleagues.
• Offering support to members of LGBTQ+ community, or around these issues, when they need us.
• Strengthening links with the LGBTQ+ community and the police, including being able to signpost to community organisations and charities, policing and attending Pride events, and offering support with hate crime queries.
• Provide LGBTQ+ employees with the latest information, news and stories from the regional and national network and link with other forces, regionally and nationally, to ensure best practice for inclusivity in the workplace.