Officers encouraged to police diversity groups with dignity

INFORMATION disseminated at the Dignity, Diversity and Policing (DPP) workshop, attended by Captain Louise le Roux, was so impactful she needed to share it with her colleagues.

 

The Brighton Beach corporate communications officer is known for her efforts to campaign for the rights and safety of vulnerable groups within society. She opted to share the information from this workshop with her colleagues, as she felt that it was educational and empowering.

 

“Members are now sensitised with regards to standing operational procedures (SOP) through the information book and file. The reality is that members in the visible policing (vispol) environment seldom have the time during their 12-hour shift to read these directives as they are in the field.

“I opted to generate the SOPs provided during the workshop for policing prostitution and the protection and promotion of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, plus (LGBTQI+) persons. Both these documents were bonded and presented to members appointed under the Police Act as a booklet,” she said.

 

The booklets were distributed to officers on duty in the vispol, operational support, administrative support environment and to detective services against a signature. Almost 90% of the officers appointed under the Police Act received these booklets. The remainder will receive theirs upon returning to work, Le Roux said.

“When we police, we must promote and protect human rights with dignity and diversity. These good practices will contribute to lessening, and even eliminating, complaints against police, civil claims and conducts generated. Through this internal project, the organisation invested in the human capital by ensuring that members are sensitised on policing with dignity and diversity, while being aware of the human rights of marginalised groups within society,” she added.