Wiltshire Police launch Internal 'It's Not Banter' campaign

An internal campaign has been launched at Wiltshire Police to improve understanding of when jokes and so-called 'banter' cross the line into sexual misconduct in the workplace.

Recent internal survey findings highlighted that sexual misconduct disguised as 'banter' or jokes remains a concern for some members of the workforce, with 13 percent of male colleagues and nine percent of female colleagues reporting that they hear a sexual joke or story at least once a week.

The campaign is about increasing understanding, encouraging people to reflect on their behaviour, and ensuring everyone knows how and where to report concerns.

Called ‘It’s Not Banter’, the campaign forms part of the force's ongoing commitment to improve standards, strengthen workplace culture and ensure all employees feel safe, respected and supported at work.

The recent survey also revealed significant barriers to reporting inappropriate behaviour, with 17 percent of employees who had experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct saying they chose not to report it because they feared it could negatively affect their career progression, while 23 percent 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."

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 percent of male colleagues and nine percent 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."

The campaign aims to raise awareness within the organisation of Op Access – a safe space for reporting sexual misconduct for employees which launched after the Angiolini Inquiry and the Baroness Casey Review highlighted serious challenges across policing nationally in how sexual misconduct was dealt with.