During my 32 years police service I worked alongside many homosexual officers, but for 99% of the time I didn't actually know it and 100% of the time I didn't care. Most of them kept their sexuality to themselves, it was a generation thing and I know times have changed but, I reiterate, most of my former colleagues' sexual orientation and preferences (with a few exceptions) was kept very much to themselves. Had I known, it would have made not a bean of difference to me whatsoever. So, I am a little undecided about what to make of the following story, from a Constabulary newspaper:
Hampshire Constabulary
has maintained its position
as the UK’s top police force
for lesbian, gay and
bisexual (LGB) people.
We came 14th in this year’s Stonewall
Workplace Equality Index, which ranks
organisations on their commitment to
LGB employees.
Chief Constable Alex Marshall said: “I
applaud the achievements of the
Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and
all the organisations that enter into it.
“The fact the competition has
become much tougher is testament to
the progress the country as a whole is
making in improving the quality of life
for lesbian, gay and bisexual people,
both in the workplace and in our
communities.”
Top of the index for 2012 was Ernst
and Young followed in second place by
the Home Office.
I had no idea there was a competition.
4 comments:
Oh, there's been a competition for several years now - all government departments and many of the larger companies and organisations devote man-hours (can I say that?) and resources to it, and brag on their websites and internal communications.
Does it make a difference in the long run? Who really knows...
If LGBwhateverness is now so unabashed that public count-competitions are held, then there is no more reason to think it special enough to compete over.
Are they LGB who just happen to the Police officers or Police officers who just happen to be LGB? There is a difference. One must take priority over the other. Various groups complained about signs on London buses saying something like, "People just happen to be gay. Get Over it". No one was allowed to complain as it may have fallen foul of several equality laws. Another group wanted signs put on the buses saying something like, "........don't give a bugger about gays. Get Over It". This was refused as it was felt to be inflammatory. Before I retired from the Police I was exiled to the custody suite for a while and one day a (male) prisoner was brought in. He wanted confirmation that the male officer who would be searching him was not gay as he did not want anyone 'getting their rocks off running hands up and down his legs' and felt that this could constitute sexual assault. If this was not possible, he would agree to a female Police officer as long as she was a lesbian. He then claimed it was his right under equality laws and also under PACE. I stood back while the Custody Sgt liaised with the PACE and Duty Inspectors and, unfortunately, finished duty before the matter was resolved. I never did find out what happened. If Police forces openly promote their GLB credentials, there may be more incidents like this.
Anon: Best you stayed out of the way of that one. If I was the custody officer that day I think I'd have said that, as the ranking and appointed custody supervisory officer, I had full responsibility and would conduct the search myself.
Afterwards I'd have told him that prior to conducting the search I was most def not gay, but since searching him I was re-considering my options on the matter.
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