Gay Police Association E-Bulletin
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E-Bulletin 02/09 Aug 2009 Pride Scotia, Edinburgh in making the day so successful and progressed into organising a biennial to all of our colleagues and friends conference. The EGPA has made On Saturday, 27th June, 2009 the from England and Wales, who made significant advances in these areas GPA marched in uniform in the Pride the Great Trek North and braved the and the conferences have been an Scotia Parade in Edinburgh. This was Scottish summer weather to take overwhelming success. With the an historic occasion for Scotland as it part. This was a day that will be, for exception of Luxemburg, Denmark, was the first time this had ever been me, one of the highlights, not only of Greece and Belgium all of the undertaken. Just under 70 NEC and my time in the GPA, but of my entire Western European countries are GPA members together with partners Police service.” represented in the EGPA. and supporters took part, marching immediately behind the Parade At this meeting the successes of the leaders, taking the cavalcade down past were acknowledged and it was Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile, past agreed that the aims and objectives the new Scottish Parliament building of the EGPA should now be and back into to the City Centre. progressed at a strategic level. The Leading the GPA contingent were ACC EGPA is seeking funding from the Fiona Taylor of Strathclyde Police, European Parliament and will be Chief Supt. Martyn Ripley, attempting to seek recognition from Commander for the BTP in Scotland, them as being representative of the Supt. David Carradice of Lothian and Police Forces at a European level. Borders; Supt. Liz McAinsh who This is likely to be lengthy process, Pride Events throughout the UK represented the HMICS; Supt. Gavin however there is European diversity Buist of ASPS and Insp Michael legislation in place that many The Greater Manchester Police’s gay Pearson from the Police Federation of countries choose to ignore and LGB support network has invited GPA England and Wales. The GPA would issues need to placed on the agenda members to participate in their local like to thank these officers for their for consideration. The UK will be Pride marching-in-uniform event. visible show of support and hope that hosting the next meeting which will Manchester Pride will take place on th they found this experience enjoyable. take place on the 9 October 2009. the 29 th August 2009. If you would Discussions also took place like to join in this event you should The GPA contingent gathered at the concerning the 2010 LGB Policing contact [email protected]. City Chambers for the pre-Parade conference and it has been confirmed briefing and on moving out into the that this will take place in Vienna. Nottingham Police marched in their Royal Mile were greeted by a great Details of the program and Pride Parade this year, and although cheer and applause from the confirmation of the date will appear in the circulation of this E bulletin meant spectators and other Parade future E-Bulletins. it was too late to advertise it, the NEC participants. The poor weather hadn't hope that it was a successful event deterred the spectators and the GPA Website Update that was enjoyed by all in attendance. were greeted warmly and Please remember that if you wish to appreciatively by a good number of The tendering process for the new march in uniform at any Pride Event people throughout the length of the website has now been completed and then the standing authority by many Parade. a company has been identified to Forces issued to the GPA will not undertake this work. We are waiting cover these and individual permissions Chief Inspector David Lyle the on confirmation and funding from the are required. Secretary & Scottish Coordinator for Home Office before this work can the GPA was responsible for commence. The new website will be European Gay Police Association organising our attendance and has interactive with a reference sections said “This was a tremendous and as well as a member’s area and an A meeting of the EGPA took place in incredibly special day for all of us in update on all current strategic Amsterdam on the 29 th April 2009, the GPA in Scotland, and I'm projects. Whilst it is acknowledged this forum was originally set up to immensely grateful to everyone who that the website has taken some encourage the creation of Gay took part. I'd like to say a particular considerable time it is anticipated that Support Networks in police forces ‘thank you’ to the Scottish Co- the final product will be one that we throughout Europe. This then ordinators and contacts who assisted can all be proud of. Office of National Statistics North Wales Police Cleveland Police have displayed the Nottinghamshire Police Rainbow Flag on the television The ONS 'Sexual Identity Project' has South Wales Police screens in their police stations and been investigating the development of Suffolk Police placing rainbow flag stickers on front "a question (or set of questions) that Thames Valley Police windows and doors to covey the can be used on social surveys for In response to the letter from the Gay message to their LGBT community equality monitoring purposes”. The Police Association, a number of Chief that their Police Stations are a safe current position is that no such Constables voiced their support. The environment. question is likely to be included in Chief Constable of Suffolk stated that 2011 census, meaning at least he was “very much in support of Confirming the importance of this another decade will pass before such flying the Rainbow Flag at appropriate initiative is the recent figures that a question can be included. times” as it makes a “clear statement have been released by the regarding what I stand for and the Metropolitan Police who have The Chief Executive of the Equalities values of our organisation”. recorded a 9% rise in homophobic & Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and transphobic crime (to April 2009). indicated clearly that the EHRC's view This trend is echoed by the Greater was that such a question should be Manchester Police who have recorded included in 2011 census. In keeping a 63% increase. These figures are with the proposed Single Equality Act, supported by the Crown Prosecution it is the perfect time to add a question Service who have seen a 60% on sexual orientation to the census. increase in prosecutions over the last two years. Hate crime of this nature There is an electronic link to a 10 is clearly still an issue that requires Downing Street Petition to include addressing and initiatives such as this Sexual Orientation in the next Census. continue to keep it in the public eye. This petition can be found at. http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/lgb2 Whilst the Chief Constable of Legislation and Guidance 011census/ Lincolnshire Police agreed that the flying the Rainbow Flag “is an The Independent Police Complaints ‘Flying the Flag’ initiative important and simple gesture of Commission issued new guidance on support to the gay community”. dealing with allegations of Sunday 17 th May 2009 was the ‘The discriminatory behaviour. These International Day Against The Chief Constable of Merseyside, Mr guidelines replace those issued by the Homophobia and Transphobia’ Hogan-Howe went one step further in Police Complaints Authority and (IDAHO) and this was one of the days his support of this campaign. Despite dictate how complaints and which the Gay Police Association already flying the Rainbow flag for the misconduct investigations should be sought the co-operation of Chief last three years, this year a flag was undertaken. The GPA were part of Constables in flying the rainbow flag raised at every police station the consultation process in developing to mark this significant date and show throughout his force. In a bold step, these guidelines which can be found their support for their local LGBT Mr Hogan-Howe also lit up his on the IPCC’s website. communities, both internal and Headquarters in coloured lighting external. depicting a rainbow. In his response The NEC have also been asked by the to our letter he stated that this Equality and Human Rights The Gay Police Association would like initiative “shows a visible commitment commission to be a member of the to publicly acknowledge the following to the LGBT staff and local Equality Bill Codes & Guidance police forces for demonstrating their communities in Merseyside”. Reference Group. We are being commitment to equality in this way. consulted on the writing of a guide to The forces that raised the flag The National Executive Committee advise users of the new Equality throughout the United Kingdom were: believe that undertaking this visible Legislation how the Act will change Avon and Somerset Police means of support is a strong existing legislation. Cheshire Police indication of positive leadership Derbyshire Police towards changing the perception of Contact Details Durham Police the gay communities towards the Dyfed-Powys Police and would urge those Chief If you would like any information to Essex Police Constables who did not take part this appear in the next E Bulletin please E Greater Manchester Police year to consider doing so next year. Mail [email protected] with the Gwent Police relevant details and contact Lincolnshire Police Other initiatives have also been information. Merseyside Police undertaken throughout the UK. .