The Equality Act 2010

The purpose of the Equality Act is to provide protection against discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for individuals and groups with protected characteristics.

You can read more about the Equality Act 2010 on the Home Office Website.

Public Sector Equality Duty

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) was introduced under the Equality Act 2010, replacing previous duties focused on race, disability, and gender equality. The general equality duty is outlined in Section 149 of the Act.

General Equality Duty

The Equality Act 2010 sets out a number of duties that we, as a public sector organisation, have to carry out to ensure that equality becomes a part of day to day work. These duties include:

• Eliminating harassment, victimisation and any other discriminating conduct
• Advancing equality of opportunity between persons who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not
• Foster good relations between persons who share a protected characteristic and persons who do not
• Publishing compliance information and statistical information about the services employees and the communities we serve
• Producing measurable objectives and reporting on the work towards achieving them

Benefits of the Equality Duty

While compliance with the general equality duty is a legal requirement, it also brings practical advantages. By meeting the diverse needs of its service users, SFRS is better positioned to deliver its core services efficiently and effectively.

A diverse and inclusive working environment also supports higher employee engagement and productivity. Overall, meeting equality obligations can lead to more appropriate, responsive, and cost-effective services, resulting in higher public satisfaction.