A Brief History

 

The network began in 1999 in Nottinghamshire.  Richard Martin, Constable and Diversity Trainer, had attended the Equalities Associates (Home Office Specialist Support Unit) – Community and Race Relations course at Turvey, Bedfordshire in 1998, where the idea of network / support meetings for Community & Race Relations Trainers was born. 

 

Richard with the support of his line manager, Garry Chadwick arranged a networking meeting at the Nottinghamshire Police Training Centre.  Invitations were sent to trainers from across the region – Northamptonshire to West Yorkshire, Staffordshire to Lincolnshire.  This first one-day meeting was held for 16 trainers.  It was agreed that the meeting had been a useful exercise and West Yorkshire offered to host another event at their training centre at Bishopgarth.

 

For this second seminar, invitations were sent across the UK and around 65 delegates attended.  The seminar included themed workshops, giving delegates an opportunity to exchange ideas and good practice.

 

The next seminar was held at National Police Training, Harrogate organised by John Trusswell and the Community & Race Relations training staff.  This was the first seminar to be held over a weekend, which facilitated the attendance of those delegates who had difficulty being released from training commitments.

 

Following suggestions provided in feedback from the first seminars the format of the Conference was developing into a combination of guest speakers and workshops that enabled trainers to exchange information, experience, good practice, pitfalls etc.  It also gave trainers an opportunity to let off steam to other like-minded trainers.

 

In May 2001, another event was held at National Police Training, Bramshill.  Despite the conference being held over the back holiday weekend (it was the only weekend available), attendance reached three figures for the first time and included guests from outside of police organisations, as well as staff from police services in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

 

The next seminar took place in early December 2001 back to National Police Training, Harrogate.  By now a voluntary steering group was well established and the workload distributed accordingly.  The conference had attracted the attention of HMIC who were represented by Scottie Addison (HMIC Training) and Robin Field Smith.  The Chief Constable of Humberside Police and ACPO Chair of the Race and Community Relations Committee, David Westwood was also present during the weekend.

 

In June 2002 the conference went to Sheffield, South Yorkshire, thanks to trainers Alan Boyle and Andy Kennedy and the Steering Group.  The host force arranged the whole event, which was held at The Hilton Hotel.  The workshops included exploring the use of forum theatre within training, dealing with issues of sexuality, dealing with conflict, working with HMIC on the Diversity Matters Thematic Inspection.   Feedback received from delegates was very positive and encouraging.

 

In November 2002 Nottinghamshire Police hosted the conference at the Nottingham Hilton.  Workshops looking at black history, disability, gender reassignment and the Centrex sponsored CD ROM – “WORD”.  A workshop looking at issues surrounding conflict / challenges in the classroom also took place becoming something of a “standard agenda item”.

 

In May 2003, Avon and Somerset hosted a conference at Bradley Stoke, Bristol and a series of workshops looking at Managing conflict in the classroom, Asylum seekers and Refugees “Myths and Fears”, Gay Issues, Gypsy Travellers, Diversity Matters – HMIC Thematic Inspection Report, and the Centrex Diversity Course.

 

Since 2003 spring and autumn conferences have been held in a variety of locations across the UK including Cardiff, Coventry, London Docklands, Bromsgrove, Chester, City of London.  These conferences form the mainstay of the PDTN’s purpose… “Supporting Trainers in Diversity”.

 

Aims of the PDTN

 

The aims of the network are to:

 

·        Offer guidance and support to Trainers, Practitioners and Managers working in the field of Diversity and facilitate the exchange of information, good practice and topical updates in order to develop and enhance their skills

 

·        Offer the opportunity to meet, network and establish working partnerships between practitioners within the police family and the communities they serve without prejudice or exception.

 

·        Maintain and further develop established links with Police staff Associations, the Home Office, APA, HMIC, ACPO and the NPIA through consultation and engagement.

 

 

Structure and Governance

 

The PDTN is a voluntary and non-funded network. A Steering Group, made up of Chair, Deputy Chair, General Secretary, Treasurer, Events Officer, Web Coordinator, Regional Representatives and Committee Members, oversees it. The PDTN undertakes its business according to an agreed Memorandum of Association, together with supporting meeting protocols.

 

 

Relationships and Partnership Working

 

In the 2003 HMIC Thematic Inspection Report “Diversity Matters” stated that –

 

“Race and Diversity trainers have for their own benefit formed the Police Diversity Trainers Network (PDTN).  The status of this has recently been considerably enhanced.  Both Centrex and ACPO recognise the existence of the group, the former providing a degree of tangible support in the form of resources.  A specific member of ACPO has been given responsibility for monitoring the concerns of race and diversity trainers.  These are welcome initiatives, but more still needs to be done to guarantee adequate levels of support for such valuable people" (paragraph 7.50)

 

and that

 

“HM Inspector recommends that with immediate effect the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA) officially recognise and support the Police Diversity Trainers Network (PDTN) as a formal service-wide support mechanism” (Recommendation 7.5)

 

Since it’s formation the PDTN has worked closely with a variety of groups both within and outside of the Police Service. It’s bi-annual conferences, often themed around specific issues and communities, are planned and delivered in conjunction with local and national community members and examples of these relationships are outlined below.

 

Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)

 

Chief Constable Matt Baggott appointed ACC Davina Logan as the PDTN’s ACPO sponsor, a role she has maintained since her promotion to Deputy Chief Constable at Northamptonshire Police.

 

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC)

 

The PDTN Steering Group works closely with Robin Field-Smith, Robin Williams and Everett Henry at HMIC (Training).  The network has also worked closely with Rachel Kearton at the Home Office.

 

Association of Police Authorities (APA)

 

The PDTN were Stage One and Stage Two consultees in the preparation of the draft guidance APA report “Involving communities in police learning and development” published in November 2004.

 

NPIAy)

 

The PDTN works closely with the NPIA, who support the network by way of resources allocated to conference events. In return PDTN members provided the authority with valuable feedback on new training products and initiatives.