Annual Equality Report 2022

Our Equality Objectives

In 2022, Devon & Cornwall Police refreshed its Equality Objectives to make them more focused and targeted with meaningful, measurable, and ambitious outcomes.

Our four equality objectives focus on Hate Crime, Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), Access, Engagement & Leadership Culture, and Positive Action. Under each of these objectives a three-year work plan has been developed. These have been informed through internal consultations and wider policing activity.  Below each objective is a snapshot of some of the activity that has been undertaken in 2022.  

1 Hate Crime: Tackle hate crime and protect those at risk of targeted abuse and violence

• Raise awareness and increase reporting of hate crime across all diverse communities.
• Develop and establish effective third-party reporting mechanisms for victims of hate crime across all protected groups.
• Work in partnership to ensure that hate crime outcomes include a range of relevant suitable disposal options including community resolution, diversion and education and prosecution.
• Deliver very high-quality investigative standards, with rigorous supervisory oversight.

Devon & Cornwall Police continued to see the impact of COVID-19 on and within communities subject to hate crime.

Many of the previous community engagement opportunities, groups and activities including some who acted as third-party hate crime reporting centres have not re-established since the end of lockdown. Changing relationships, improving connectivity, and identifying gaps within the existing third-party reporting centres have been undertaken this year. Reflection on the impact of these gaps in specific communities, has identified the potential need for additional third-party reporting opportunities.

One community requiring additional reporting support are children and young people within schools and other educational settings. This work has identified the potential for developing more appropriately aged materials.

In addition, Devon & Cornwall Police has in year revisited the service provision on Sex or Gender based hate crime, looking at how we can improve reporting of these crimes.