999 crews make Stonewall Index

South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is in joint 61st place and Sussex Police in joint 91st place in the 2014 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which was revealed earlier this week.

The Index assesses organisational equality practices, how organisations engage with their lesbian, gay and bisexual staff and customers and looks for good practice.

Sussex Police had improved its position and score in the 2014 Index, making it into the top 100 for five years out of six.

The Force’s score has increased from 138 to 150 out of 200.

Deputy Chief Constable Giles York, the Sussex Police lead for Equality and Diversity, will be representing the Force at the launch event this evening in London.

Giles York said: “This is good news: it is vital that Sussex Police has a positive, inclusive working environment.

“I hope this result encourages even more lesbian, gay and bisexual people to consider working with us, so we can continue to better reflect the communities we serve.”

Superintendent Laurence Taylor, Sussex Police’s Equality Champion for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual communities, said: “I’m delighted with this news, and I will make sure we continue to keep listening and learning from local communities to increase trust and confidence, encourage more reporting of the crimes that affect them and to improve the services we provide.” For the full results and more information about Stonewall, visit www.stonewall.org.uk