Staffordshire Police apologise for past homophobic persecution

Staffordshire Police have become the 22nd police force in the UK to apologise for their history of persecuting LGBTQ+ people. Responding to an appeal from the Peter Tatchell Foundation’s “Apologise now!” campaign, Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs issued a formal apology on behalf of Staffordshire Police for the past “ill-treatment” of LGBTQ+ people.

Peter Tatchell appeals to Police Chiefs across the UK, including at Birmingham Pride

The Apologise Now campaign was launched almost three years ago in June 2023; backed by the late-great Paul O’Grady. Speaking at the time of the launch, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, Tatchell himself explained: “Officers raided gay bars, clubs and even private birthday parties, insulting LGBTs as ‘poofs’ and ‘queers’. They gave the names and addresses of arrested gay men to local papers, which led to some being evicted, sacked and violently assaulted. Police harassed LGBTs leaving gay venues and arrested same-sex couples for kissing, cuddling and holding hands until the 1990s.

“The police did not make the law but chose to enforce it zealously. They went out of their way to target gay and bisexual men. Young handsome male officers were sent into public toilets and parks, where they lured gay men into committing offences and then arrested them. These so-called ‘pretty police’ acted as agents provocateurs.

“The yearly average of homosexual offences recorded by the police was nearly three times greater after the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in 1967, than it was in the previous eight decades of total criminalisation – clear evidence of a police witch-hunt.

“We need this apology to draw a line under past homophobic victimisation, and to boost LGBT+ trust and confidence in the police to report hate crime, domestic abuse and sexual assault.”

A new letter, issued this year, by Acting Chief Constable Riggs expressed “sincere regret” for Staffordshire Police’s part in this history, and claims to be a “heartfelt apology” for the way laws criminalising homosexuality were enforced.

The apology goes on to admit that enforcement was often “inappropriate, discriminatory and fell short of the standards the public should expect.”

The letter acknowledges the lasting negative impact this mistreatment has had on trust and confidence in policing among LGBTQIA+ communities, which impacts issues including hate crime reporting. The letter does highlight some of the steps taken to improve relations with the LGBTQ+ community, including the work of the LGBTQ+ staff network, expanded hate crime reporting mechanisms and specialist training on LGBT+ issues for officers.

Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs closes the apology by stating “Whilst I am proud of our progress, there is still more work to do, and I always welcome the feedback of the LGBTQ+ communities on how we can improve our service.”

Responding to the apology, Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said:

“This apology is a much-appreciated acknowledgement of the suffering caused by decades of discriminatory policing. We are pleased to see that Staffordshire police are committed to match their words with sustained action nowadays to ensure LGBT+ people are protected, respected and treated equally.

“The Peter Tatchell Foundation continues to call on police forces across the UK to formally recognise past abuses, say sorry and commit to ongoing engagement with LGBT+ communities.”

23 Chief Constables, for police forces in the UK, have yet to issue a formal apology to the LGBTQ+ community, including the West Midlands, which alongside Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland, was one of the three forces with the worst history of homophobic witch-hunts.