Kirsten Hearn - "A truly professional police service must be fully inclusive and challenge discrimination unrelentingly"

102/03
12 December 2003

Kirsten Hearn, independent member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, will stress the importance of the Metropolitan Police in recognising and embracing the rights of people with disabilities when she addresses the ‘Disability Capital 2003’ conference this Saturday.

The conference will bring together people with disabilities, deaf Londoners and key policy makers to discuss issues of specific concern that can often exclude those with disabilities from participating fully and without fear in the capital’s life.

Speaking specifically about ‘crime and the experience of disabled people’, Kirsten will say:

"If the Metropolitan Police Service is to police all London's communities fairly it must recognise that professional competency includes actively embracing the celebration of diversity, and unrelentingly challenging discrimination, both personally and institutionally.

“This will happen when disabled people as victims and perpetrators of crime are treated fairly and disabled Police officers and staff are enabled to play their part as equal and respected workers within the organisation.

“The MPS does now flag hate crimes committed against disabled people - but no one has told disabled people!

“I see my role on the MPA as supporting positive actions within the MPS to address the needs of people who have previously been ignored, and then to encourage the organisation to inform the community that the service is available and they are there for them when it counts.”

Kirsten’s specific areas of interest in policing are diversity issues and policing for the disabled community.

Notes to editors

1. ‘Disability Capital 2003’ takes place on Saturday 13 December, 09:30 – 17:00, at Excel – London’s Exhibition Centre, Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16. It is open to members of the public. Media enquiries contact Richard Brookes 020 7983 4713 or Ben McKnight 020 7983 4071.

2. Hosted by the Mayor of London, the conference has been organised in partnership with The London Development Agency, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police Authority. It aims to set the Mayor's policy agenda beyond European Year of Disabled People and towards greater disability equality for all Londoners.

3. Kirsten Hearn – Biographical details

Kirsten Hearn’s background has been in public service, training, community action and creative arts.
She currently leads an Empowerment Coaching and Training Consultancy supporting individuals and organizations to develop their services, people and products to the challenges of a new era. Previously she worked for sixteen years in local government where she led corporate, strategic organisation and staff development initiatives, specialising in equality and diversity.
Kirsten is a non-executive Board Member of Transport for London where, amongst other roles, she works on social inclusion transport issues, best value scrutiny and community consultation.
Kirsten has been a freelance equality trainer since 1983 and has been active in voluntary organisations since 1980. She is also a sculptor, writer and singer-songwriter. She is an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Master Practitioner and a certified NLP Coach. She has an MA from the Royal College of Art in Environmental Media and Design Education.
Kirsten says: “as a blind woman I have developed strategies and support systems to overcome the many challenges I face in life.”

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