Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police forces on (a) training and (b) other mechanisms for avoiding institutional homophobia.

Equality and diversity are important – people across all communities want the police to fight crime while having confidence that their needs will be understood and respected.

The Government has reformed policing to ensure that there is a sector-led approach to making improvements, including the establishment of the College of Policing as the professional body charged with setting standards in all areas of police practice, and developing guidance and training.

The College launched the Code of Ethics in July 2014. The Code clearly sets out the core principles and standards of behaviour expected from everyone in policing, including in the areas of equality and diversity.

Each force has responsibility, as the employer, to ensure that their workforce is suitably equipped for the work they carry out.