Equality and diversity

The key to the MPA successfully scrutinising the MPS is understanding the effect of discrimination and challenging the barriers to effective employment, service delivery and community engagement practices.

The MPA is required, under Section 404 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, to promote equality of opportunity for all persons irrespective of their race, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief and to eliminate unlawful discrimination.

 As a public authority the MPA is also subject to the Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Duty covers: age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. Those subject to the general Equality Duty must have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• Advance equality of opportunity between different groups
• Foster good relations between different groups

The duty to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination also covers marriage and civil partnership. The Equality Act also gives Ministers the power to impose specific duties through regulations. The specific duties are legal requirements designed to help those public bodies covered by the specific duties meet the general duty. The duty to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination also covers marriage and civil partnerships. It is proposed that the general equality duty will come into force in England, Scotland and Wales in April 2011.

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