VIDEO: Highlands police to take part in team talks to raise awareness of inequalities within the community
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Police are marking the end of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month with a reflection on the progress being made in the Scottish police force, and a look to the future.
On Facebook, Chief Inspector Jen Valentine, of Highlands and Islands police division, praised the work done so far, and talked about the force's work to pilot an Inclusion Moments scheme.
She said: "We are running a survey of LGBTI staff within the division to understand their experience.
"A recent national survey of staff found that only 50 per cent of staff could be their whole self in the workplace.
"We want to understand what that looks like here [in the Highlands and Islands] and most importantly what we can do to make sure there are no barriers in the workplace and that we are as inclusive as possible."
CI Valentine said the force would be embarking on Inclusion Moments from next month. Led by the force's chief superintendent, Conrad Trickett, officers would be invited to short, ten minute discussions on an equality diversity or inclusion subject. LGBTI will be one of the first to be discussed, but discussions are being planned on subjects such as gender, race awareness and autism.
She said that a number of officers from the Highlands attended training with the LGBTI charity Stonewall discussing mental health and wellbeing.
She continued: "It was a reminder of how we deal with hate crimes considering not only the victim but the wider community."
"I truly believe that by having a truly inclusive workplace we will better serve our communities."
She thanked everyone for their support, and said she was looking forward to working together in the coming year.
Read more about police initiatives.
