Sussex Police has jumped 80 places to 22nd in the list of gay friendly employers in the UK.

Over 400 employers entered the 2016 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, the highest number of applicants since the index first opened in 2005.

The leap up the table from 102nd last year means that Sussex Police has been in the top 100 for five years out of seven.

The Gay Police Association Sussex (GPA-S), the Sussex Police LGB support network, has also been recognised as a 'Highly Commended Network Group' within the index.

The index assesses organisational equality practices, how organisations engage with their LGBT staff and customers and looks for good practice, as well as considering community engagement.

Chief Constable Giles York, the Sussex Police lead for equality and diversity, said: "This is brilliant news. It is vital that Sussex Police has a positive, inclusive working environment. I hope this result encourages even more LGBT people to consider working with us, so we can continue to better reflect the communities we serve, as well as increasing trust and confidence to encourage more reporting of crimes that affect the LGBT community. Over the past year we have strengthened our diversity and equality initiatives; developing our Proud Allies scheme, as well as growing our staff support group, the GPA-S."

Jane Carter, chair of GPA-S, said: "The inclusion of Sussex Police in the Stonewall top 100, at an unprecedented number 22, as well as GPA-S being recognised as a highly commended network group, is a significant achievement for the organisation. Both the inclusion and the high placement speak volumes about the efforts and initiatives that have taken place to promote and cement inclusion in the workforce. GPA-S 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."

For the full results and more information about Stonewall go to www.stonewall.org.uk/get-involved/workplace/workplace-equality-index.