13 November 2008
Diversity in Action 2008
The Diversity in Action Award was introduced in 2004 to the Jane’s Police Review Gala Awards. ‘Diversity in Action’ covers the widest definition of diversity and includes gender, race, sexual orientation and disability.
Winner: Community Engagement Team
Force: Avon and Somerset Police
Team highlights: More than 10,000 people travelling through Bristol International Airport got to hear positive messages about 'actual' Islam, the force says, when the community engagement team, based with Avon and Somerset Constabulary's Special Branch, set up a Muslim awareness week.
The team has formed links with all of the mosques in Bristol and their strong community work culminated in the arrest of a terrorist suspect in April 2008 in an operation derived solely from community information, Det Ch Insp Kevin Hazell, head of Special Branch, says.
The team also set up a network aligning officers with all the Mosques in Bristol to encourage day-to-day contact.
What others say: Jackie Roberts, an assistant chief constable with the force, says: 'The work carried out by the team has made a real difference to the quality and quantity of intelligence received, especially from the ethnic community.'
Runner-Up - CO20, Metropolitan Police
3rd Place - South Yorkshire Reflex, South Yorkshire Police
Photos (Click for high resolution version)
Community Engagement Team
CO20, Metropolitan Police
South Yorkshire Reflex