West Midlands Police apologise to LGBTQ+ communities for historic mistreatment

After lengthy campaigning from the Peter Tatchell Foundation, West Midlands Police’s acting Chief Constable has finally issued an apology to the LGBTQ+ community for historic mistreatment. WMP Acting Chief Constable Scott Green said Pride Month was the “timely and appropriate” moment to apologise on behalf of the force, adding that he wanted to “offer this genuine apology for the actions and behaviours that led to ill-treatment or harm experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The ‘Apologise Now!’ appeal was launched by the Peter Tatchell Foundation in June 2023, with the support of the late-great Paul O’Grady. In the years that have followed, Tatchell has continued to put pressure on police forces including confronting WMP during Birmingham Pride, while campaigners locally have also collaborated to push for change.

In a previous statement, Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said: “West Midlands Police were among the most viciously homophobic forces in Britain. Officers engaged in harassment, entrapment, beatings, and raids on gay venues and private birthday parties. Same-sex couples were arrested and assaulted for merely kissing and holding hands. The police publicly outed and shamed LGBT+ people, giving their names to employers and newspapers—destroying lives. If the police can apologise to the Black community, why not to the LGBT+ community?”

During this year’s Pride month, West Midlands Police have become the 23rd UK force to apologise for the historic treatment of LGBTQ+ people. Since his appointment in January this year, Acting Chief Constable Green has reportedly met with members and representatives of the LGBTQ+ community, engaging with opportunities to listen.

He said: “I actively wanted to listen, hear and understand the lived experience of LGBTQ+ communities, both historically and now, so I could comprehend the detrimental impact policing had on people. From these recent engagements and opportunities, I have been deeply saddened and moved by the trauma experienced by individuals as a consequence of the actions and behaviours of police.

”It has become increasingly clear to me that the manner in which certain laws were enforced prior to the decriminalisation of homosexuality was in many cases, inappropriate, discriminatory, and fell short of the standards any member of the public should expect. It is for this reason I wanted to express my sincere regret and offer this genuine apology for the actions and behaviours that led to ill-treatment or harm experienced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“Thankfully I do believe that we have come a long way and are now a much more inclusive and diverse organisation that plays an active role in engaging positively with our LGBTQ+ community, both internally and externally.

“What this apology does seek to achieve is to reaffirm our commitment today to policing without fear or favour.”

The full letter can be downloaded from WMP here.

Responding to the apology, which was sent to Eva Echo alongside many other local LGBTQ+ community members and campaigners, Echo said: “For many years, local campaigners, groups and organisations of different intersections and generations have been working alongside those serving within West Midlands Police as well as the Police & Crime Commissioner’s office, to create change and to make this happen.

“A lot has taken place behind the scenes, some of us have been targeted or criticised for working alongside “the enemy”, it’s meant putting in the work and the time outside of what we normally do, it’s been frustrating and even emotional but most of all, it’s been worth it.

“This apology directly from the (Acting) CC is a commitment to do better, to continue learning and listening, as we build on this historic moment for the community- especially those that experienced the mistreatment first-hand. With all that we face as a community, this foundation for growth is what we need to ensure we can be move forward together with Pride and to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.

“Progress may not happen overnight or when we want it to, but progress cannot be stopped.”

In his letter, Acting CC Green added: “I would also like to personally put on record my thanks to members of the LGBTQ+ community to who I am extremely grateful for being so open and willing to share their experiences with me and I praise you for your bravery and courage.

“I want everyone to feel able to speak to West Midlands Police, to report crime or share information, in the knowledge they will be treated with dignity and respect.”

“I know I cannot change the past and it saddens me greatly to think that our historic actions have diminished trust in West Midlands Police and led to feelings of injustice that persist for some today.”