The Equality Act 2010 was designed to bring
together a number of existing pieces of legislation and it sets out
the personal characteristics that are protected by the new law and
the behaviour that is unlawful. The nine 'protected
characteristics' covered under the Act are (in
alphabetical order):
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion and belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
A further explanation of the protected characterisitics can be
found in the document protected
characteristics.
The new Public Sector Equality Duty established
under the auspices of the Act came into force on 5 April 2011.
This duty consists of a general duty, with
three main aims (set out in Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010);
and specific duties which are set out in secondary legislation (and
Section 153 of the Act) which came into force on 10 September
2011.
In summary, the general duty means the Police
must, in the exercise of all our
functions, have due regard to:
- Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
and other conduct prohibited by the Act
- Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a
protected characteristic and those who do not
- Foster good relations between people who share a protected
characteristic and those who do not
The Specific duties mean that:-
- All relevant public bodies must publish information to demonstrate compliance with Section
149 starting not later than 31 January 2012
- Publish such information subsequently at intervals not greater
than 1 year from date of last publication
- Prepare and publish one or more Equality
Objectives – not later than 6 April 2012
- Revise the objectives at intervals of not greater than 4 years
from the date of last publication
- Equality Objectives must be specific and
measurable
Contact us
Should you have any comments or require any more information
about anything on this page, please contact:
Diversity Team
Communities Unit
Constabulary Headquarters
Clemonds Hey
Oakmere Road
Winsford
Cheshire
CW7 2UA
Phone: 01606 362003
Email: diversity.advisory.unit@cheshire.pnn.police.uk