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Upstander Training Programme28 February 2024
As part of Guernsey Police's ongoing work to raise awareness about male violence against women and girls, a new digital training course has been rolled out to all officers and staff.
Designed by the UK College of Policing, the Upstander Training Programme is being rolled out nationally to ensure police work environments are places where inappropriate behaviour is challenged when it is witnessed, setting an example of how that behaviour should be universally challenged.
It gives everyone in policing the knowledge and skills to challenge inappropriate behaviour when they see it, helping to maintain a culture that is fair and equal, based on respect for all.
In recent years Guernsey Police has developed a strategy for tackling Violence Against Women and Girls and has been focused on bringing sexual offenders to justice and ensuring people that are victims of these offences feel safe to report them.
Policing nationally has also been looking at how it can improve the culture within Police Forces following several serious failings being highlighted in other forces from around the British Isles. This training is part of that work, and aligns with the commitment that Guernsey Police made to monitor any key decisions made in the UK and implement them locally if they aligned with our VAWG strategy.
The training also complements the Police Code of Ethics, the national VAWG Strategy and the national Police Race Action Plan, and seeks to ensure everyone in every force can:
- act with courage, respect and empathy towards our colleagues
- have the capability and motivation to challenge and stand up to discrimination in all its forms in policing
Deputy Chief Officer Ian Scholes said:
"This training package developed by the College of Policing provides our officers and staff with advice and tools on how to tackle inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, whether that be sexism, racism, homophobia, or any similar behaviours or offences. It is all too easy for someone to notice inappropriate behaviour, but to think someone else will deal with it and not say anything. We must all feel able to stand up and call it out.
"As a HeForShe force - one that is committed to equality and fair treatment - it is important that we all feel empowered to stand up for our colleagues. I'm delighted that the College has pushed this training out, and we continue to encourage all of our staff to be upstanders, not bystanders.
"We are already fortunate in Guernsey Police to be surrounded by a strong team who value fairness and do challenge poor behaviour, however we always want to be doing more to ensure we are informed and at the cutting edge of these issues, setting a good example for the rest of the community."