Wiltshire Police has launched a workplace crackdown on sexual jokes and so-called “banter”, describing it as “one of our highest priorities”.
The force launched its internal ‘It’s Not Banter’ campaign after a staff survey found some employees regularly hear sexual jokes or stories at work.
The findings showed 13% of male colleagues and 9% of female colleagues reported hearing a sexual joke or story at least once a week.
Wiltshire Police said the campaign aims to help its workforce recognise when jokes and banter cross the line into sexual misconduct.
The survey also revealed concerns among employees about the potential consequences of reporting inappropriate behaviour.
Of those who had experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct, 17% said they did not report it because they feared it could negatively affect their career progression.
A further 23% cited concerns about being ostracised by their peer group.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Cooper said: “Creating a professional, respectful and inclusive culture is one of our highest priorities at Wiltshire Police, and while many people may view certain comments or jokes as harmless banter, the reality is that behaviour which makes colleagues feel uncomfortable, undermined or disrespected has no place within Wiltshire Police.
“We want our workforce to know that we are listening carefully to what they are telling us. Sexual misconduct, misogyny and misandry, whether overt or disguised as humour, are not tolerated within our organisation.
“We are committed to rooting out inappropriate behaviour and we know from our internal survey, that there is more work to do in relation to challenging unacceptable attitudes and ensuring everyone who works for Wiltshire Police feels valued, respected and able to be themselves.
“The standards we expect of our workforce are high, and this campaign is about supporting our people to recognise where the line is, have the confidence to challenge poor behaviour and help us build the positive culture our communities rightly expect.”
The campaign will also raise awareness of Op Access, which provides employees with a safe space to report sexual misconduct.
The initiative was launched following the Angiolini Inquiry and Baroness Casey Review, which highlighted challenges across policing nationally over how sexual misconduct was dealt with.
Chief Inspector Penny Andrews, of the Professional Standards Department, said: “The statistics from our survey provide an important insight into the experiences of our workforce and demonstrate why this campaign is needed.
“When 13 per cent of male colleagues and 9 per cent of female colleagues tell us they hear sexual jokes or stories every week, it is clear that behaviours which may be dismissed as banter can have a real impact on workplace culture.
“The survey also highlighted that some people are reluctant to report concerns because they fear repercussions for their career or relationships with colleagues. That is something we take extremely seriously.
“The campaign is about increasing understanding, encouraging people to reflect on their behaviour and ensuring everyone knows how and where to report concerns. Most importantly, it demonstrates that we are listening to our employees and taking meaningful action in response to what they have told us.”
