Equality and diversity

This section includes information on equality and diversity at the Home Office and its specific business areas.

We are required to consider all individuals when carrying out their day to day work, in shaping policy and in delivering services. This is in line with the public sector Equality Duty introduced by the Equality Act 2010.

The work of the Home Office has an impact on almost everyone in the United Kingdom and as a result, the diversity of the people we come into contact with, and offer services to, is immense. We therefore incorporate equality into our core objectives, making every effort to eliminate discrimination, promote equal opportunities and foster good working relationships between different people.

The Government Equalities Office sits within the Home Office and sets the government's overall equality strategy. Find out more about the Government Equalities Office and its work to build a fairer society.

Specific duties

We are transparent about how we respond to the Equality Duty, as required by the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011. This involves setting clear equality objectives and publishing information on our efforts to achieve these.

Information on our compliance with these regulations is available throughout this section, which we will update regularly.

Diversity strategy

The diversity strategy sets out our ambitions for equality and diversity between 2010-2013, both in relation to staff and in delivering services to the public.

This strategy builds on our learning to ensure that as a department, we continue to champion equality and diversity in all we do, whether it concerns our staff or the wider public. A progress report showing what has been achieved during 2010-11 and setting a new set of priorities for 2012 is now also available.

Equality objectives

To support delivery of the Home Office business plan to cut crime, control immigration, stop terrorism and be a champion for equalities and women, and to meet the requirements of the public sector Equality Duty, the department has devised specific equality objectives.

The objectives have addressed equality issues across the breadth of our functions and the services we deliver. There is a commitment to work with stakeholders throughout, and to tackle those issues most pressing for the department.