Protecting Together: Diversity and Inclusion in the MDP 

Valuing Your Unique Contribution 

Our people are the foundation of our Force. Your individual background, skills and experiences enrich our capabilities and enhance our service. We thrive on diversity of thought, experience and perspective. 

We are committed to being representative of the communities we serve and creating an environment where everyone can perform at their best. We understand that people excel when they can be authentic, work in a respectful environment, and feel truly valued. 

Inclusive Environment 

We're dedicated to providing a workplace where everyone can contribute to our mission and achieve their full potential. Our commitment to inclusion extends across all aspects of our Force: 

Equal Opportunity 

We promote equality of opportunity for all, regardless of background. We stand against discrimination on any grounds, including the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. 

Disability Confident 

We are proud to be recognised as a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to recruiting, retaining and developing people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. We actively ensure our recruitment processes are inclusive—guaranteeing interviews to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria, while providing appropriate workplace adjustments and support for all our people. Our managers are trained to effectively support employees with health conditions, ensuring everyone has equal opportunities for development and progression. As we continue our journey toward becoming a Disability Confident Leader, we remain dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can contribute their talents and reach their full potential.  

Supporting Wellbeing 

The health and wellbeing of our people is paramount. We provide support for officers and staff with visible and non-visible disabilities and health conditions, enabling fulfilling careers where everyone is included and valued. Our support includes: 

• Trained Mental Health First Aiders throughout the Force 

• Accessible health, wellbeing and fitness support services 

• Comprehensive benefits package 

Joining Our Team 

We ensure our recruitment processes are fair and accessible, making reasonable adjustments wherever possible to enable everyone to participate fully. 

While the role of an Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) does have specific medical and fitness standards, we encourage you to review our Medical Standards or contact us with any questions about eligibility. 

Staff Networks 

Our active staff networks provide support, community, and advocacy: 

• Gender Network 

• REACH - Race Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage Network 

• LGBT+ Network 

• Disability and Wellbeing Network (DAWN) 

These networks are embedded throughout our Force, helping us celebrate our differences, share experiences, and build a culture where everyone can be proud of who they are. 

All MDP employees can join our networks as members or allies at any point in their career, contributing as much or as little as they wish. 

We also maintain connections with national organisations including the British Association of Women in Policing, National Black Police Association, National LGBT+ Police Network, and the Scottish LGBTI Police Association, as well as MOD-wide networks. 

Governance and Leadership 

We have established a clear structure to advance diversity and inclusion, ensuring it's championed at all levels: 

Diversity and Inclusion Board (DIB) - Sets strategic priorities and reviews performance 

Diversity and Inclusion Functional Working Group (DIFWG) - Delivers our action plan 

Diversity and Inclusion Engagement Group (DIEG) - Ensures collaboration between networks 

Positive Action 

We aim to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and attracts the best talent from the widest pool of people. As women, Black, Asian and Ethnic minority people, and members of the LGBT+ community are currently underrepresented in our operational policing roles, we use positive action initiatives to encourage applications from these groups. Positive action helps us actively increase participation in recruitment from underrepresented groups. It's not about favouritism but demonstrating our commitment to welcoming applications from all qualified candidates. Final selection is always based on merit. 

Our initiatives include: 

• Buddy scheme for joiners - Providing support and guidance during recruitment and training 

• Candidate information sessions - Offering insights into MDP careers with advice from current staff and network members 

To learn more about how we can assist you in the application process, please contact: MDP-PositiveActionGMB@mod.gov.uk