Sickle Cell Awareness: In Conversation with Dr Cecilia Ayisi-Shoetan

September was Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and we have just celebrated Black History Month in October.

The DPA, Women of Colour in Policing (WoCiP) in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police, and Dr Ceclia Ayisi-Shoetan, founder of Lorraine’s Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Foundation, have come together to talk about the tragic loss of Dr Ayisi-Shoetan’s eldest daughter Lorraine to sickle cell complications.

Thank you to our President, Andrea Shoetan for hosting, Samantha Alexander, Deputy Lead for WoCiPBCH for interviewing, and Dr Ayisi-Shoetan for sharing her story. ∎

Disability in Policing Conference 2025

The DPA is pleased to announce that the 2025 Disability in Policing Conference will take place from 29th-30th September at the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport

Our theme this year is: ‘How to maximise the diverse abilities of your police workforce, retaining their skills and experience’.

The conference will help and inspire you to:

  • Invest in equality, diversity and inclusion posts
  • Save money, as investment reduces number of employment tribunals, estimated cost £100,000 each
  • Improve public confidence because we are getting it right for staff
  • Increase reporting of disability hate crime
  • Acknowledge the disability pay gap for recruitment and retention

The conference will be live streamed to allow wider access.

The annual Disability in Policing Awards will take place on the evening of 29th September. Nominations for these will open soon, so please start to think about your amazing colleagues and friends who you could nominate for the following categories:

  • Coaching and Mentoring Diverse Abilities
  • Service to Disabled Communities
  • Inspiration to Others
  • Leading with Diverse Abilities
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Officer with Diverse Abilities
  • Staff Member with Diverse Abilities
  • Volunteer with Diverse Abilities
  • Disability Advocate of the Year (whether disabled or not)

The conference is Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited with ten CPD points.

For more information, visit the conference website. There are limited spaces available, so register now to secure your place.

If you have any questions regarding the conference, please contact CJS Event Solutions on register@cjsevents.co.uk or 0333 222 4061. ∎

DPA launches 2025-27 Strategy

25th June 2025 marks the launch of the Disabled Police Association’s strategic vision for the coming years.

DPA Pledge
DPA Pledge (click to enlarge)

The new Strategy, which replaces the DPA’s previous Action Plan, sets out how as a national staff support association we will champion fairness and equality for disabled officers and staff across the UK police service.

DPA President Andrea Shoetan said: “This is an exciting week for the DPA as we push to get disability into the national agenda for all police forces by creating our own Pledge. We are asking all Chief Constables, Commissioners, Police Crimes Commissioners and Mayors to sign this to pledge their commitment to our key aims held within the DPA Force requirements.”

During the remainder of 2025, the DPA will strive to get all police forces signed up to the DPA Pledge.

Our strategy includes:

  • Our Vision
  • Our Mission
  • Our Membership
  • Short and long-term goals and objectives

Click on the link to view the Strategy webpage. ∎