A FORMER police boss has been recognised for championing gay rights in the workplace.

Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp has been named as LGBT charity Stonewall’s senior champion in its annual Workplace Equality Index.

For the sixth time in eight years, Sussex Police appears in a top 100 of gay-friendly employers and the Sussex Police LGBT Network was highly commended for its work.

The former divisional commander for Brighton and Hove has been given the award for his work as the LGBT equality champion for the force – a responsibility he took on alongside his daily tasks to lead policing in the city.

Part of his work included supporting Brighton Pride and the annual equality walk.

Chief Supt Kemp, who stepped down from his post last month and is training to be an assistant chief constable, said: “This award means a huge amount to me and I know from having spoken to colleagues, it means a huge amount to Sussex Police too.

“I believe strongly people perform at their best if they can be themselves.

“In policing we value courage and it is courage that many LGBT people have had to show just to be themselves.

“Making a stand as champion bought me into conflict on a personal level with a member of my family and sometimes the public and so I am sadly aware of the prejudice and discrimination LGBT people have experienced.

“My own experience only made me more resolute. I have been proud to be LGBT equality champion, to be part of an organisation that values difference and I am overwhelmed to have received this award.”

The force appears 79th in the list which recognises its commitment as an employer to LGBT staff. This is a drop of 57 on its place in last year’s list but still higher than its position of 102 in 2015.

Jane Carter, chairwoman of Sussex Police LGBT Network, said: “The inclusion of Sussex Police in the Stonewall top 100 as well as the network being recognised as a highly commended network group, is a significant achievement for the organisation.

“Both the inclusion and our placement in the index speak volumes about the efforts and initiatives that have taken place to promote and cement inclusion in the workforce.

“The Sussex Police LGBT Network is proud to continue to support this work and assist in any way possible to further encourage and reinforce the values promoted by Sussex Police.”

The index assesses the employers’ practices and how it treats LGBT staff and members of the public.