Apologise to all LGBTs, says top police officer

Northumbria’s Chief Constable, Vanessa Jardine, has made a formal apology to the LGBT+ community

She is also urging all Chief Constables to do the same: to say sorry for past homophobic witch-hunts and discriminatory law enforcement.

In a  letter to LGBT+ campaigner Peter Tatchell she said: “As the portfolio holder with the National Police Chiefs Council, I will continue to encourage colleagues to review your request for an apology.”

“I am also working on a National LGBTQ+ Strategy which I am hoping will be seen as another positive step towards building a more inclusive future.”

Jardine is the sixteenth UK police chief to apologise, following similar apologies by the heads of the Metropolitan, City of London, Sussex, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Gwent, Avon & Somerset, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, West Mercia, North Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Devon & Cornwall and Nottinghamshire forces.

Vanessa Jardine’s apology is in response to the #ApologiseNow campaign initiated by the Peter Tatchell Foundation. The campaign was backed by comedian and TV presenter Paul O’Grady before his death.