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    01

    Mar 2024

    Last Updated: 01/03/2024

    North Yorkshire Police apologises to LGBTQ+ community

    by Lauren Ryan

    | 01 Mar, 2024
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    nyp-at-york-pride
    North Yorkshire Police at York Pride 2023

    North Yorkshire Police has today issued an apology for any historical discriminatory behaviour that the LGBTQ+ community were subjected to by any members of the force.

    The apology came in response to a request from Peter Tatchell, director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, a charity that promotes human rights.

    Mr Tatchell called for all police forces to apologise for their historical treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.

    Mr Tatchell said:

    “To draw a line under the past extreme persecution of LGBT+ people by UK police, including your force, I hope you will agree that some expression of remorse is appropriate... so that we can move forward together.”


    Acting chief constable Elliot Foskett (left) and superintendent Ed Hayward-Noble, the strategic lead for LGBTQ+.



    In his response letter, acting chief constable Elliot Foskett said:

    "I offer my sincere apologies to the LGBTQ+ community for any historical discriminatory behaviour they were subjected to by any member of this force.
    "To rebuild trust, it’s important to recognise the harm caused not only to the individuals subject to unacceptable police behaviours of the past, but also the upset and distress experienced by their families and loved ones, and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
    "I recognise that it’s important to acknowledge former injustices, to forge stronger relationships for the future. I hope that this acknowledgment demonstrates our commitment as a force to work with our LGBTQ+ to do exactly that.
    "As a bisexual man myself, I understand some of the challenges that our LGBTQ+ communities, both externally and internally, continue to face."


    ACC Foskett added Pride events were a "valuable opportunity for us to engage positively with our LGBTQ+ communities".

    Last year North Yorkshire Police took part in the York Pride event.



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