KENT Police and the county council are considered to be among the top 30 employers in the country for lesbian, gay and bi-sexual people.

The two public organisations were included in this year’s Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which monitors the fair treatment and general well being of openly gay UK people in their jobs.

Kent Police came in joint 26th - with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and media company Time Warner – in the list of 100 top employers, and is the fifth best police force in the country for LBG people to work for.

Det Con Peter Wakerly, a member of the Kent Police Gay and Lesbian Support Group, said: "The Group has one of the largest memberships of similar support groups throughout the country; I think that this is a good reflection of how far Kent Police have moved forward in tackling these issues."

He added: "Although there are issues that still need addressing from time to time, from a personal point of view I find the Service very receptive when these are raised and together we work to resolve them."

Kent County Council came in joint 29th with Gloucestershire County Council, KPMG and The Co-operative.

KCC’s Rainbow Forum launched in August 2003 to support LGB and transgender staff on employment issues and provide advice to KCC to ensure services are accessible and appropriate to all Kent residents regardless of sexuality.

KCC Chief Executive Peter Gilroy said: "It is very important to us that in an authority of our size that diversity in the workplace is recognised and we are committed to ensuring that staff are supported at all times.

"This shows we are continuing to improve our responsiveness to the needs of LGB people in Kent."

The annual Workplace Equality Index features the Top 100 employers in the UK for LGB people.

Companies wishing to take part provide details ranging from their equality policies to recruitment practices and are asked to demonstrate improvements in the workplace for LGB employees.