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Greater Manchester mayor andy burnham Has apologized for historical police failures towards LGBTQ+ people.
in a letter to Peter Tatchell Foundation is apologizing for “Past homophobic harassment” of LGBTQ+ people. By UK police forces, Mr Burnham acknowledged the “unacceptable discrimination and pain and suffering” caused by police failures.
He said: “There is no doubt in my mind that the LGBTQ+ community has historically been treated shamefully in this country and has clearly been discriminated against in many ways.
“This discrimination occurred not only in policing, but across all public services and beyond, although I certainly acknowledge the specific consequences of discriminatory and targeted policing.
“Fortunately, as you acknowledge, things have progressed dramatically since the 1980s and 1990s.”
He added: “As Mayor of Greater Manchester, I acknowledge unacceptable discrimination and the pain and suffering it causes. I apologize to all LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester and across the UK for the past failure of GMP in this regard.”
Mr Burnham’s comments come as Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson has faced criticism for refusing to apologize on behalf of his force, after he said doing so could be seen as “superficial and merely cosmetic”.
Activist Peter Tatchell has said that Greater Manchester Police was once “one of the most homophobic police forces in the UK”, citing comments by Chief Constable Sir James Anderton in the 1980s, who said that “gay men dying of AIDS were ‘rolling around in a human dustbin of their own making'”.
“Motivated by his anti-homosexual religious beliefs, he ordered police to go after LGBT people.”
More than 20 chief constables across the UK have apologized for their histories of homophobia, including the City of London, Sussex, Merseyside, Police Scotland, Northumberland and Durham. The Police Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has also apologized.
Mr Tatchell said that “GMP has so far refused to do this. We urge Stephen Watson to do so.”
Independent Understands that there is no change in GMP’s position at this stage.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester commented on Sir Stephen’s comments, admitting in his letter that although the Chief Constable had not approved Mr Tatchell’s request, he believed it was “considerate and respectful”.
“It is important for me to point out that the Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioners have no statutory power to direct chief constables, because in law they are operationally independent.”
Mr Tatchell said: “I am grateful to Andy Burnham for his clear and unequivocal apology for the historical mistreatment of LGBT+ people by Greater Manchester Police.
“However, it is very disappointing that the Chief Constable is refusing to express regret. The Mayor’s apology, although welcome, cannot take the place of an apology police force Who committed these abuses.
“An official GMP apology would be a powerful act of accountability, reconciliation and trust-building with LGBT+ communities. We urge Chief Constables to follow the example set by Mayor Burnham and other police chiefs across the UK.
“Our Foundation will continue to campaign for a full and formal apology from Greater Manchester Police.”