The police, a modern employer: more diversity, less discrimination

1 December 2015

Some 80 persons came to the auditorium of the Brussels Polis Center to take part in a study day organised by the Federal Police, in cooperation with the CPS (Centre for Policing and Security) and the CEP (Centre d’Etudes sur la Police). The objective was to analyse the police’s position with regard to three diversity topics, namely ‘disability’, ‘religious beliefs’ and ‘gender’.

Each topic was first discussed by a representative of the private sector and subsequently by staff members of public institutions, the police and individuals with experience in the field. Panel discussions, moderated by a journalist, followed the presentations. These discussions threw some light on the modernness of the Integrated Police with regard to diversity.

This initiative was taken to open the eyes of individuals who have – even today – very narrow-minded views. The idea behind it was to reflect together on the things that bind us and to focus on similarities instead of thinking in terms of common or distinct characteristics. Disability, religious beliefs and gender are only three indicators within human resources management. To conclude this study day, General Commissioner Catherine De Bolle emphasised that the police can only be professional as an employer and organisation at the service of the public if diversity is used as a guiding thread: ‘A unicoloured police within a coloured society has become unthinkable. Active diversity management is the only way the police are able to meet society’s requirements these days. The future challenge is to make use of everyone’s talents and skills to improve the quality of the services rendered to the public.’