Andy Burnham apologises for GMP historic failings towards LGBTQ+ people
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham has apologized for historic police failures towards LGBTQ+ people.
Mr Burnham acknowledged the “unacceptable discrimination and pain and suffering” caused by police failings in a letter to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which apologized for “past homophobic persecution” of LGBTQ+ people by UK police forces.
He said: “I have no doubt that the LGBTQ+ community has historically been shamefully treated by this country and openly discriminated against in many ways.
“This discrimination has manifested itself not only in policing but across all public services and beyond, although of course I also recognize the different consequences of discriminatory and targeted policing.
“Fortunately, as you acknowledge, things have moved on dramatically since the 1980s and 1990s.”
He continued: “As Mayor of Greater Manchester, I acknowledge unacceptable discrimination and the pain and suffering it has caused. I apologize to all LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester and across the UK for GMP’s past failure in this regard.”
Mr Burnham’s comment comes as Greater Manchester Police chief Sir Stephen Watson faces criticism for refusing to apologize on behalf of his force; He himself said that this could be seen as “superficial and purely for performance purposes”.
Activist Peter Tatchell said 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 that “gay men dying of AIDS were ‘floating around in a human cesspit of their own making'”.
“Motivated by his homophobic religious beliefs, he ordered the police to ‘pursue’ LGBT people.”
More than 20 police chiefs across the UK have apologized for their history of homophobia, including in the City of London, Sussex, Merseyside, Police Scotland, Northumberland and Durham. The Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police also apologized.
“GMP has so far refused to do the same. We are calling on Stephen Watson to do the same,” Mr Tatchell said.
Independent We understand that there is no change in GMP’s stance at this stage.
The Mayor of Manchester commented on Sir Stephen’s comments, acknowledging in his letter that although the Chief Constable did not accept Mr Tatchell’s request, he believed it was “considered and respectful”.
“It is important for me to note that Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners do not have the legal power to instruct chief constables as they are operationally independent by law.”
Mr Tatchell said: “I am grateful to Andy Burnham for publicly apologizing for the historical mistreatment of LGBT+ people by Greater Manchester Police.
“However, it is deeply disappointing that the Chief of Police continues to refuse to apologize. The mayor’s apology, although welcome, cannot replace an apology from the police department that committed these violations.
“A formal GMP apology would be a powerful act of accountability, reconciliation and trust-building with LGBT+ communities. We call on the Chief Constable to follow the example set by Mayor Burnham and other police chiefs across Britain.
“Our foundation will continue to campaign for a full and formal apology from Greater Manchester Police.”
