The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)

You will hear the Public Sector Equality Duty a great deal. This is the part of the Equality Act that encourages public bodies to lead, influence and shape policy and services around the communities they serve.

The Duty is divided into two parts:  The General Duty and the Specific Duties.

The General Duty

The General Duty has three aims (also known as the three arms of the Duty).  It requires public bodies, when exercising their functions, to have due regard to:

Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act

Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it by:

• removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics;
• meeting the needs of people with protected characteristics; and
• encouraging people with protected characteristics to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is low.

Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it by:

tackling prejudice and promoting understanding between people with a protected characteristic and others.

What does due regard mean? 

Having due regard means consciously thinking about the three aims of the Duty as part of the process of decision making.  This means that equality issues must be considered (where relevant) as part of the decisions officers and Members make to satisfy the duty.

Examples would be:

• how we act as an employer;
• how we develop, evaluate and review our policies;
• how we design, deliver and evaluate our services; and
• how we commission and procure from others

Next: the specific duties

• Equality & Diversity
• Equality Act 2010
• Public Sector Equality Duty
• Specific Duties
• Publications

Clerk to the Equality Group

Claire Grant

claire.grant@thanet.gov.uk

Tel: 01843 577909