Image source: BBC
The Apology
Acting Chief Constable Scott Green wrote to Birmingham Pride organisers formally acknowledging that West Midlands Police had applied laws in a manner that was inappropriate and discriminatory toward LGBTQ+ communities — particularly gay and bisexual men — prior to legislative reforms in 2003. Green described the impact as lasting and stated that the force's historical actions had diminished public trust and left a sense of injustice that persists for some people today.
Green emphasized that the apology was intended to reflect a genuine desire to build a positive relationship with LGBTQ+ communities and allies, and was not merely a formality.
Path to the Apology
Pride organiser Lawrence Barton described the apology as the outcome of a conversation he had been pursuing with the force for many years. He had previously written to former chief constables David Thompson and Craig Guildford requesting a formal apology on two separate occasions, both of which were declined. Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster subsequently offered public support for the request, which Barton credited as instrumental in enabling the apology to proceed.
Legal Background
The 2003 legal reforms referenced in the apology included the repeal of Section 28, which had prohibited local authorities from "promoting" homosexuality; the equalisation of the age of consent for same-sex conduct; and the removal of charges such as gross indecency under previous Sexual Offences legislation.
Regional Pride Events
The City of Wolverhampton Council reported that more than 1,000 people joined the parade at its Pride event earlier this month, with over 5,000 continuing celebrations at West Park.
Separately, West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), which had declined to participate in Birmingham Pride citing legal advice that doing so could compromise its political impartiality obligations, subsequently reviewed Coventry Pride and concluded the event constituted a community celebration it could fully support, allowing staff to participate.
European Editorial Office: John