WILTSHIRE Police has joined with other forces throughout England and Wales to commit to gender equality as part of International Women’s Day (Friday 8 March).

All of the 43 police forces in England and Wales, along with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have made a commitment to the United Nations' HeForShe movement.

The achievement is being announced at today’s Senior Women in Policing Conference in Birmingham.

HeForShe, initiated by UN Women, invites people around the world to stand together to create a bold, visible and united force for gender equality.

Each police force has expressly committed to improving gender imbalances at senior levels in policing and to continue to work towards communities free from domestic and sexual abuse.

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “For me, diversity is about building an organisation that is enriched by the talents of its people and truly reflecting the diverse communities we are here to serve.

"I am fully committed to achieving gender equality and I am proud to sign up to this important pledge and make sure we deliver on it.”

Signing up to the HeForShe campaign commits Wiltshire Police, alongside other police forces, to deliver against three commitments:

• Discuss gender equality within the workforce to aspire to improve the gender imbalances at senior levels within policing;

• Continue to work to combat domestic abuse and sexual abuse in society to create communities free from such abuse; and

• Support the annual reporting of gender equality information.

The solidarity movement was created by UN Women, the United Nations organisation for gender equality and the empowerment of women. HeForShe invites men to build on the work of the women’s movement, recognising men as equal partners for women’s rights.

It calls on men and women to find innovative, inclusive ways to create and deliver a shared vision of gender equality that benefits all.

Chief Constable Giles York, of Sussex Police, who leads HeForShe for police forces nationally, said: ‘This International Women’s Day marks a positive step towards achieving gender equality.

"Police forces throughout the UK have stood together and made a commitment to achieve gender balances within policing."

Other services within policing have also made their commitment to HeForShe, including the Association of Special Constabulary Officers, British Transport Police, College of Policing, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Police Scotland and the Superintendents’ Association.