North Yorkshire Police bans uniformed officers from joining Pride events

Uniformed officers from North Yorkshire Police will no longer be able to take part in Pride events, the force chief has said.

The news follows a High Court ruling that the participation of uniformed Northumbria Police officers in a Newcastle Pride event last year was unlawful.

North Yorkshire Chief Constable Tim Forber said the only officers on duty and in uniform at future events would be those “actively engaged in policing the event”.

He said: “It is absolutely essential that the police act impartially at all times and are seen to do so by all the communities we serve. Participating in protest activity, or parades that support any ’cause’ can quite rightly undermine the public’s confidence in that impartiality.”

Mr Forber said: “Any North Yorkshire Police officer who wishes to ‘participate’ in a parade or lawful protest may do so, but they must be off duty and are not permitted to wear their uniform.

“I do not allow the altering of police uniform or the changing of the livery of police vehicles to show support for any cause.”

York Pride has been contacted for comment by the BBC.

The move comes in contrast to previous occasions, when officers, PCSOs, special constables, staff and volunteers have paraded and patrolled at York Pride.

North Yorkshire officers have also participated in pride events in Scarborough.

At Scarborough Pride 2024, the force said it was “important for North Yorkshire Police to be represented” and show support.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement the change had been “very much driven by the change of chief constable in April 2024 when Tim Forber joined us”.

The force said: “There is also a sense that the public’s attitude to policing has shifted over recent years and that the public appreciate and expect policing to focus on its core activities.”

Asked whether the stance might discourage victims of hate crime to come forward, the force said: “NYP does not tolerate discriminatory behaviour against members of the LGBTQ+ community – and we encourage the reporting of these crimes and incidents from victims.

“For an event such as York Pride we made provision for our Hate Crime team to be present at our stand at Knavesmire.

“We hope that by demonstrating our openness and impartiality, it will encourage anyone who is the subject of a hate crime to come forward and report to us.”

A High Court judge ruled last week that Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine’s decision to allow uniformed police officers to take part in a Pride march was “outside the range of reasonable decisions open to her”.