Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of (a) the number of paid hours spent on staff network related activities by police officers and other staff across the 43 territorial police forces and (b) the cost of this time.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

There are 11 staff networks recognised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. These are:

British Association of Women in Policing

Christian Police Association

Disabled Police Association

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association

Jewish Police Association

National Association of Muslim Police

National Black Police Association

National LGBT+ Association

National Police Autism Association

Police Pagan Association

National Sikh Police Association

It is for forces to ensure that such networks contribute appropriately to force objectives. We would expect all staff networks to operate in line with established policing principles and standards, including impartiality and maintaining public confidence.

Officers and staff are under the direction and control of chief constables, and it is right that the National Police Chiefs’ Council are working to put Operating Principles in place to ensure consistency and accountability in the function of staff networks.

The Home Office does not collect data on police staff networks or their membership.