Police recruit equality advisors

The team of advisors will aid the force in equality issues

A team of advisors has been recruited by Central Scotland Police to help the force deal with race, faith and other equality issues.

The group of 20 advisors will work with officers and senior investigators to assist in sensitive enquiries and also to advise on employment issues.

The force said the move would help them improve community relationships and service delivery.

The team will also consider gender and disability issues within the force.

Ch Supt Gordon Samson, who has responsibility for policing within communities, said: "There was a growing recognition of the need to build relationships still further and widen the remit of the lay advisors and that included looking at other diversity strands as well as race.

"There was also a need to extend lay involvement beyond that of principally policy review into other areas such as advising senior investigating officers during sensitive investigations or enquiries, monitoring our service delivery in areas such as hate crime and providing advice on employment and procurement processes."

Deputy Chief Constable Iain MacLeod, who will chair the group, added: "This is about being as inclusive in delivering a service to the communities of the Forth Valley as possible and giving people the opportunity to help us shape future policing delivery.

"This is an innovative group that will consider some important issues."