Armed forces protection shows support - council

The change was approved as part of the authority's new equality, diversity and inclusion strategy

Councillors in Walsall have said they are supporting people who have served their country, after agreeing to add "armed forces" to the authority's own list of protected characteristics.

The Equality Act 2010 identified nine characteristics including age, sex, and race which aim to prevent discrimination in the workplace.

But councillors have now approved a plan to recognise those who serve or have served as part of their new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy.

Councillor Edward Lee, portfolio holder for internal resources, said he was proud the council had committed to "doing right" by those people.

The authority said it re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in November, "renewing its pledge to support the armed forces community across the borough".

It was given a silver award in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme in July which recognised the authority for demonstrating significant support to the armed forces community through policies and practices.

Councillor Adam Hicken, the council's armed forces champion, said: "We want our armed forces community to know that we are on their side.

"Ten years ago, we first signed the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging our support to the local armed forces community.

"Now we’ve taken it a stage further and recognised armed forces as a protected characteristic to help us deliver on our promises.”