Met Police restores LGBTQ+ liaison officers to ‘rebuild trust’ with community
The Met Police has announced the return of full time LGBTQ+ liaison officers in London as part of its “commitment to rebuilding the trust” with the community.
Content warning: This story includes topics that could make some readers feel uncomfortable and/or upset. The roles were created in conjunction with LGBTQ+ people and the LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group (IAG), feedback from which showed it that “the expectations and requirements of LGBT+ community liaison had changed.” LGBT+ Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) will provide support and advice to peers, colleagues and members of the public on LGBTQ+ issues. “It’s our duty to protect and serve all members of our community, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or other characteristics,” said PC Sam Varnham, the CLO for Harrow, Barnet and Brent. “It’s important that we work to create a world where everyone can feel safe and accepted for who they are. “As a CLO I will get to know my local community and help to build bridges so we can support LGBT+ people better and work together.” READ MORE: West Midlands Police refuses to apologise for history of LGBTQ+ “witch hunts” The announcement comes just a week after Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley responded to a campaign from the Peter Tatchell Foundation and officially accepted that the Met “had systems and processes in place which have led to bias and discrimination in the way we have policed London’s communities, and in the way we have treated our officers and staff, over many decades.” Leading human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell praised Rowley for “backing up his apology to the LGBT+ community with concrete action.” “Restoring these dedicated LGBT+ liaison officers will strengthen collaboration between the
