National Inclusion Week: Police Now and National Networks
Friday 30 September 2022
Working in partnership with forces across the country, Police Now consistently recruits more female officers and more officers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds than the national average, and continues to support officers in their policing journeys once they have graduated from the programmes.
With a strong focus on breaking down the barriers often faced by officers from underrepresented groups, Police Now’s Ambassadors and Alumni team work to support the progression and development of Police Now graduates across the country, through the development of national networks and through access to exclusive networking events.
During this week’s National Inclusion Week (Monday 26th September – Sunday 2nd October), Police Now held a staff networks event for officers to learn more about the support networks available to them within policing. The event panel consisted of senior officers from across national policing networks and Police Now staff, sharing details on how to access support at both local and national levels and how officers can drive diversity and inclusion in the police service.
With support from the Ambassadors and Alumni team, Police Now alumni have so far launched: the Policing Diverse Communities Network, a space to further develop the knowledge and skills required for inclusive policing and engaging with different communities; the Policing Drugs Network, to provide a space for collaboration, discussion and sharing of best practice to drive positive change and harm reduction on a national scale; and the Sergeants Network and Fast Track Networks, to support talented and diverse individuals into leadership roles where they can have a positive influence within communities and their forces.
Police Now’s Frontline Leadership Programme also offers support to officers across the country who want to transform communities and lead from the front in ways that build trust and confidence in the police service. The one-year development programme prepares officers with high potential for promotion to leadership roles and is open to Police Now alumni and other officers in partner forces across the country.
Detective Constable Lee Ellis is a participant on Police Now’s Frontline Leadership Programme and co-hosted this week’s event, she shares her experience of the programme and her role as MS Support Network Lead in the Metropolitan Police Service here.
The event panel consisted of:
– Detective Chief Inspector Andy George, Police Service of Northern Ireland, President of the National Black Police Association in the UK.
– Chief Inspector Nick Elton, Hampshire Police, Vice President of the National Police Autism Association.
– Police Constable Amy Tapping, Northumbria Police, Co-Chair of the National LGBT+ Police Network.
– Detective Constable Lee Ellis, participant on Police Now’s Frontline Leadership Programme and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Network Lead for the Metropolitan Police Service.
– Nikki Butt, Co-Vice President of the British Association for Women in Policing, Joint Chair of Northamptonshire Police Women’s Forum and the force’s Business Engagement Manager for Digital and Technology.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy George, President of the National Black Police Association (NBPA), said: “Staff associations offer support to members and guidance to the wider workforce on matters which are important to underrepresented groups. The NBPA have been at the forefront of raising matters on racial equality in policing and we will continue to create a police service that represents, engages and delivers its services to all communities in a fair and equitable manner.”
Chief Inspector Nick Elton, Vice President of the National Police Autism Association (NPAA), said: “The benefits of belonging to a staff association or a support network cannot be underestimated, they are key to providing support, advice and guidance to an individual throughout their policing career and journey. The NPAA works for police officers, staff and communities to promote neurodiversity and inclusion in the UK police service. We advocate valuing individuals for their strengths, and creating a workplace environment and culture in which everyone can fulfil their potential. We aim to end the stigma, prejudice and ignorance surrounding neurodivergent conditions.”
Nikki Butt, Co-Vice President of the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) and Joint Chair of Northamptonshire Police Women’s Forum, said: “I’m delighted to support this event on behalf of BAWP, to raise awareness of some of the issues women in policing face, the support that staff networks can provide and what the Police Now alumni can do, to both seek that support, and to provide it and raise awareness to others. I’m especially pleased as a member of police staff to be supporting the development of police officers – it is really important that Police Now is supporting the continuous professional development of its alumni through events like this, and I’m keen to ensure that we all keep learning from each other.”
