Dated: 05 Jul 2013
POLICY TITLE: Environmental Policy
OWNING DIRECTORATE: Finance & Resources
AUTHOR: Project and Sustainability Manager
CONTACT DETAILS: 101
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Complete
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AIM OF POLICY: To achieve continuous improvement in sustaining, protecting and enhancing the environment.
BENEFIT OF POLICY: The environmental impact of Northumbria Police business will be minimised.
REASON FOR POLICY: To support the strategic aim of Sustainable Development and environmental management.
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Northumbria Police acknowledges that, as a major employer and provider of services to the community, its activities and operations will inevitably have an impact on the environment. Northumbria Police seeks excellence in every aspect of its performance and, as a consequence, is committed to preventing pollution from its business. Northumbria Police will endeavour to comply with, and wherever practical, exceed the requirements of all relevant environmental legislation as well as other requirements to which the Force subscribes.
Northumbria Police's commitment is to:
- Identify, evaluate and manage its significant environmental aspects and associated impacts.
- Reduce consumption and make more efficient use of natural resources and, where appropriate use renewable / alternative energy sources.
- Measure and take action to reduce the Force’s carbon footprint on a year on year basis.
- Manage the waste generated by the Force’s operations according to the waste hierarchy premise of reduce, re-use, recycle.
- Give due consideration to environmental issues and energy performance in the acquisition, design, refurbishment, location and use of buildings.
- Work in accordance with ISO14001 policy and procedure.
- Purchase, where possible, environmentally superior products and services from supply chain partners who have demonstrated a clear commitment to good environmental practice, whilst also recognising the responsibility to deliver value for money for the tax payer.
- Have regard to the Force's duty to conserve biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
- Continually improve environmental performance and integrate recognised environmental management best practice into the Force’s operations.
To meet this commitment the Force will:
- Set and monitor key targets and objectives for managing environmental impact through a Sustainable Development Strategy, and review this annually.
- Monitor and review the response to sustainable and environmental issues within tender documents.
- Benchmark performance against other forces through the National Police Estates Group, the National Association of Police Fleet Managers and the National Police Procurement Executive, and strive for improvement.
- Communicate the policy internally to staff and externally to stakeholders and the public, and encourage feedback.
- Renew Force environmental policy regularly and seek continual improvement on targets.
The implementation of this policy will primarily be overseen by the Director of Finance.
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SOURCE DOCUMENT: UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy.
GROUPS AFFECTED: All officers and staff.
ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: None.
This instruction is designed to avoid discrimination and is not considered to have Human Rights implications.
