Surrey Police Association of Culture & Ethnicity (SPACE)

The Surrey Police Association of Culture and Ethnicity (SPACE) liaises with internal and external associations, groups, and individuals with a view to valuing diversity, promoting cultural awareness, breaking down barriers, challenging discrimination and accepting and understanding all individuals within the force and the wider community. SPACE is a support group consisting of officers, staff, and volunteers from different cultural backgrounds.

We support, monitor, and provide feedback on the organisation activities to advance recruitment, retention, and progression of colleagues from diverse communities. In addition, we work closely with the Surrey and Sussex Police Inclusion and Diversity Teams, other staff networks, and local communities to ensure collaborative working.

Trust and Legitimacy Assistant Chief Officer & Chair of the Race Action Plan Insight and Delivery board (RAPID) - Anita Grant

‘I have been in force in my role since September 2022. It has been amazing, inspirational, overwhelming and a real privilege.

Surrey Police like all Police forces has practices, policies and behaviours that are not fair and do not ensure equity for staff, officers or communities. I hope I am part of highlighting some of these and want to work with all of you to improve our impact.

Working with SPACE and staff/officers who are part of that network is a fundamentally important part of igniting the change needed. Staff and officers need clear routes to raise issues, have real discussions and to create support and empowerment options for the workforce. I know that SPACE colleagues are also really important to community engagement and communication all of which will help to improve the trust and confidence of people of colour both internally and externally.

I have met a lot of you in different ways and at different times and I remain inspired, amazed, and humbled by your work and I know that you want Surrey Police to be the best it can be. So, let’s work together to assess where we can improve the organisation and I invite you to contact me directly as chair of the RAPID board with your thoughts, experiences and ideas.’