County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue  Authority and Service is committed to promote equality in service delivery and employment.

The Authority and Service aims to promote diversity, inclusivity and eliminate unlawful discrimination as part of our Strategic Priority 2 ‘Valuing our People’ and underpins the National Fire Service Core Values.

Like all public bodies listed under schedule 19 of the Equality Act, we have a legal obligation to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty which came into force on the 5th April 2011.

In summary, those subject to the Equality Duty must, in the exercise of their functions, have due regard to the need to the three aims of the general equality duty which are:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

We have published our strategic commitment to equality and diversity in our  Single Equality Scheme.