Single Equality Scheme 1 12pt - Crown Prosecution Service

Single Equality Scheme 2006-2010
Chapter 1
Introduction to the Single Equality Scheme
PART 1
This is the first Single Equality Scheme to be produced by the Crown Prosecution
Service (CPS). It builds on the success of our earlier Race Equality Schemes. The Single
Equality Scheme is basically a strategy and set of actions to promote equality in the
CPS business and employment over the period December 2006 to January 2010.
We at the CPS provide an independent public prosecution service for criminal cases in England
and Wales referred to us by the police. Crime affects all communities, as does our work. We must
have the public’s trust and be seen by all communities as their prosecution service. We must act
fairly at all times in the interests of justice. To be trusted to make fair prosecution decisions, we
realise that our workforce needs to reflect the population we serve and to treat all employees with
respect. For both the public and for us, equality and diversity – and by this we mean treating
people fairly, providing equal chances while respecting people’s differences – in employment and
in the prosecution process are firmly linked.
For the CPS, equality and diversity is about more than just meeting our statutory requirements.
Equality and diversity is fundamental in delivering fair prosecutions, achieving equitable
employment practice and essential if we are to command the confidence of all the communities
we serve.
However, the CPS Single Equality Scheme is also a strategy which has been prepared under the
requirements of a number of statutory duties to promote equality summarised below. These
duties consist of general duties and specific duties, the purpose of the duties are to help public
bodies like the CPS address institutional and systemic inequalities that some groups face.
The duties are as follows:
5 Under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 the CPS is required to produce a Race
Equality Scheme and to review it every three years. The first was produced in 2002 and we
produced our second Race Equality Scheme in 2005 for the period 2005-08. It has now been
incorporated into this Single Equality Scheme
5 Under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 the CPS is required to produce a Disability Equality
Scheme. This must be produced by 4 December 2006
5 Under the Equality Act 2006 the CPS is required to produce a Gender Equality Scheme. The
first must be produced by 6 April 2007
This document encompasses our Disability Equality Scheme, our Gender Equality Scheme and
our Race Equality Scheme.
Our decision to produce a Single Equality Scheme
We published our second Race Equality Scheme in 2005, for the period 2005-08. When it
became clear that we would be required to publish a Disability Equality Scheme and a Gender
Equality Scheme we decided to take advantage of these two opportunities to develop a single
equality scheme.
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