Avon and Somerset Constabulary: Equality Impact Assessment

We were commissioned by Avon and Somerset Constabulary to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) on the complaints procedure administered by Professional Standards Department (PSD).

The decision to carry out an EqIA was prompted by concern that a disproportionate number of complaints were being received from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people in comparison to their white counterparts. The force was keen to ensure that the PSD provides a fair, consistent and equitable service.

The methodology we used was a combination of desk research and 1:1 interviews. The desk research consisted of reviewing a range of internal policy documents and external documents from sources such as the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). We also looked at a small sample of case files to get a more in-depth understanding of how complaints were dealt with. The 1:1 interviews were conducted over a series of dates during December 2006 and January 2007. These interviews were both face-to- face and by telephone.

Overall, we found that the complaints system is one that serves the Force well and that there is a real willingness to get things right. We presented the EqIA results in a report which summarised the findings and made recommendations for continued improvement.