West Midlands Police refuses to apologise for history of LGBTQ+ “witch hunts”
West Midlands Police has “politely declined” calls to apologise for its prior homophobic treatment of LGBTQ+ people. Peter Tatchell, one of the UK’s most prominent human rights activists, demanded that the force to make amends for “its past homophobic witch hunts” as part of the #ApologiseNow campaign being launched on 7 June by the Peter Tatchell Foundation and Baroness Helena Kennedy KC.
He accused the force, which is the country’s second largest, of being “one of the most homophobic in Britain” for going “out of its way to target consenting, victimless behaviour that harmed no one in a shameful, cynical bid to boost its arrest and conviction rates”.
In a letter addressed to the activist, Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “Historically, West Midlands Police, like all other police forces in England and Wales, was responsible for enforcing laws which we all would view very differently today.
I make that statement as a father, a police officer of 30 years-service and as Chief Constable. READ MORE: Met Police is institutionally homophobic, racist and sexist, review finds “Thankfully law makers here and elsewhere have continued to interpret and acknowledge the views of contemporary society.
