Latest news with #VanessaJardine
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Pride rainbows taken off police cars after court ruling
A police force has agreed to remove all Pride rainbows and transgender livery from its vehicles following a landmark High Court ruling. Northumbria Police has also told its officers and staff they cannot attend a Gay Pride march in uniform this weekend, in a move that could set a precedent for other forces. Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine ordered the removal of all diversity-based symbols from police cars and vans after a judge rebuked her force over its lack of impartiality. Northumbria was taken to court by a gender-critical lesbian who said it was wrong for officers to take part in events that promoted gender ideology. Now, in a letter seen by the Telegraph, the force has confirmed it is withdrawing all visible support for this year's Northern Pride. Going even further, Ms Jardine, who is LGBT+ communities lead for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), said all of Northumbria's police vehicles would have Pride livery removed. The letter stated: 'This work has commenced but may take a short amount of time. No vehicle carrying Pride, Progress and/or transgender colours and/or insignia will be deployed at the Northern Pride march and there are currently no vehicles with this livery deployed operationally.' The letter made clear that officers and staff would not be allowed to attend the march wearing uniform or anything else that identifies them as being associated with Northumbria Police. In addition the letter stated that while there would be a police stall at the event, there would be 'no Pride, Progress or transgender colours/insignia on display'. It is not clear whether Ms Jardine's approach will now be mirrored by other forces, but her role in the NPCC means her position is likely to carry some weight. The move comes after Linzi Smith, 34, a gender-critical lesbian from Newcastle, brought a case against Northumbria Constabulary, arguing that it had been wrong to allow uniformed officers to actively participate in an event that promoted gender ideology and was supported by transgender activists. In his ruling, the judge, Mr Justice Linden, said it was important that police forces were not perceived as taking sides in contentious social debates. He said: 'The fact that the officers had publicly stated their support for transgender rights by taking part in the 2024 march would be likely to give the impression that they may not deal with the matter fairly and impartially.' The judge was clear that his comments were only a reflection on the force's conduct during last year's march and it was unclear what Northumbria Police's approach would be for this year's event, which is due to take place in Newcastle on Saturday. The founder of Fair Cop, an organisation which was set up to remove politics from policing and supported the legal challenge, welcomed the move and said hopefully other forces would now follow. Harry Miller said: 'There was never any place for contested livery on a police van, and we are relieved that the Chief Constable has finally seen sense. 'The message it gave was stark, brutal and overtly political: comply, shut up, or risk facing the consequences. 'A healthy democracy requires rigorous debate, and a police force which remains unstintingly vanilla. Our hope is that chief officers throughout the UK will take note of the positive action by Vanessa Jardine and follow suit.' Following the High Court ruling, Gavin Stephens, chairman of the NPCC, said forces were working through the details of this judgment. He added: 'We are also working with the College of Policing on broader guidance which will help local forces make decisions around participation in events to maintain their impartiality. 'Policing values all our communities and will continue to police in a way that aims to build trust and confidence, including among those who have less confidence in our service. 'This is the cornerstone of good policing and especially neighbourhood policing. Our desire to ensure we recognise and provide good policing for all communities will remain unchanged.'
The National
6 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Tories call for police to be banned from Pride events
The court ruled on Wednesday that one of the UK's largest forces breached impartiality by marching at an LGBT+ event. A judicial review was brought by a gender-critical campaigner who argued that Northumbria Police broke the professional oath sworn by police officers to act "with impartiality". Officers had a stall at last year's Pride parade in Newcastle, marched under the Progress flag promoting transgender ideology and painted a police van in trans colours, while Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine was pictured at the event. Now the Scottish [[Tories]] have called on Police Scotland to ban staff participation in Pride events. READ MORE: Activist slams 'draconian' law as protester arrested at Palestine Action demo Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Sharon Dowey said: 'The public expect the primary role of police officers to be fighting crime and upholding community safety, so this ruling is a potential landmark moment. "At a time of low officer numbers and savage cuts to the police budgets on the SNP's watch, attending parades is not what Scots expect to be a priority. "It is common sense that public safety should always be the top priority for the force." David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, has also backed the court ruling and appeared to compare Pride events with Orange Order marches in his comments. He said: 'The problem is where do you draw the line? If an officer is a member of the Orange Order and wants to take part in an Orange walk while in police uniform, for example, would you allow that – how would that go down? 'Police have to do their job in an apolitical way - without fear or favour. 'The lines had become blurred but this judgment clarifies the situation." READ MORE: Keir Starmer aide's former firm in lobbying probe Kennedy said he believed officers in civilian clothes on their time off should be allowed to participate, for example by carrying flags or banners, but they should not wear uniform. A Pride march is set to take place in Glasgow on Saturday. In his ruling at the High Court in Leeds, Mr Justice Linden said Northumbria Police might be seen by the public to be 'taking sides' in the women's rights debate. It is understood Police Scotland is reviewing the High Court judgment.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Police chiefs under pressure to ban on-duty officers from joining Pride marches following High Court ruling
Police in Scotland should be banned from taking part in Pride marches while on duty following a landmark High Court ruling, rank-and-file officers said last night. They face being prevented from joining in the parades after the court ruled on Wednesday that one of Britain's largest forces breached impartiality by marching at an LGBT + event. A judicial review was brought by a gender-critical campaigner who argued that Northumbria Police broke the professional oath sworn by police officers to act 'with impartiality'. Officers had a stall at last year's Pride parade in Newcastle, marched under the Progress flag promoting transgender ideology and painted a police van in trans colours, while Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine was pictured at the event. Last night Police Scotland came under pressure to ban staff participation in the events, as the High Court ruling was heralded as the 'end of woke policing'. Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Sharon Dowey said: 'The public expect the primary role of police officers to be fighting crime and upholding community safety, so this ruling is a potential landmark moment. 'At a time of low officer numbers and savage cuts to the police budgets on the SNP's watch, attending parades is not what Scots expect to be a priority. 'It is common sense that public safety should always be the top priority for the force.' A Pride march is set to take place in Glasgow tomorrow (SAT). Police Scotland was asked if any officers are likely to participate this year. In his ruling at the High Court in Leeds, Mr Justice Linden said Northumbria Police might be seen by the public to be 'taking sides' in the women's rights debate. Linzi Smith, 34, the claimant in the judicial review, has said she will take further legal action against the force if Northumbria goes ahead with plans to allow off-duty officers to wear T-shirts identifying themselves as such at this year's event. The force declined to comment on whether it would change its position and said it was working through the judge's ruling. Last night David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, said he backed the court ruling. He said: 'The problem is where do you draw the line? If an officer is a member of the Orange Order and wants to take part in an Orange walk while in police uniform, for example, would you allow that – how would that go down? 'Police have to do their job in an apolitical way - without fear or favour. 'The lines had become blurred but this judgment clarifies the situation.' Mr Kennedy said he believed officers in civilian clothes on their time off should be allowed to participate, for example by carrying flags or banners, but they should not wear uniform. Writing in today's Mail, Dave Marshall, a former Grampian Police constable and an ex-Chief Superintendent at the College of Policing and the British Transport Police, said: 'The end of woke policing may be at hand thanks to a landmark High Court judgment which means that police participation in LGBT+ Pride events is unlawful. 'As a senior police officer, I had been banging that drum for many years. 'My professional view had always been that taking part in Pride parades - in the same way that participating in any kind of activist cause whether it be animal rights, Scottish Independence, or Black Lives Matters - simply does not square with the concept of an impartial police service.' In July last year, the Mail revealed that police officers in Scotland were paid to take part in Pride parades despite the force cutting back on fighting crime. Uniformed officers were urged to represent the overstretched force at LGBT+ events in exchange for either pay or a day off in lieu. Around 25 uniformed officers took part in the march through Glasgow, wearing special LGBT rainbow epaulettes, and flanked by a marked car and van draped in Pride flags. The group, which included some senior officers, would have accrued around £5,000 in wage costs. At the time of the Pride march in Glasgow last summer, Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said Pride officers' participation was 'considered by line managers to ensure there is no impact on operational policing'. Last year, Chief Constable Jo Farrell issued a formal apology for 'recent and historical injustices' suffered by 'lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex' people. Writing on LinkedIn, former Police Scotland superintendent Martin Gallagher said: 'Diversity is not, nor can it be, an end unto itself. 'This approach for the last 20 years has created this mess. 'One of the core purposes of the police is to prevent and detect crime. 'This is what diversity should be supporting, not replacing, as has sadly been the case in recent years and has led perversely to a breakdown of trust with some communities over perceived favouritism of others, as Wednesday's judgement indicates.' It is understood Police Scotland is reviewing the High Court judgment.
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Police wrong to join Pride march, judge rules
A police force failed to act impartially when it allowed officers to take part in a Gay Pride and transgender rights march, a court has ruled. Linzi Smith, 34, a gender-critical lesbian, brought a case against Northumbria Police after officers, including Vanessa Jardine, the head of the force, took part in last year's parade in Newcastle. Ms Smith argued that it was wrong to allow uniformed officers to actively participate in an event that promoted gender ideology and was supported by transgender activists. Responding to the ruling, Ms Smith said: 'I am delighted with the judgment of the court. It is terrifying to live in a community where the police have abandoned their duty of impartiality and embraced a highly controversial political cause.' In the legal claim, officers were accused of joining in the march; stationing a police van decked out in Pride colours at the event and associating with messaging that supported gender ideology. The hearing was told there was also a Northumbria Police static display staffed by uniformed officers and a transgender Pride flag incorporating the force's insignia. Ms Smith argued that while she accepted it was necessary for the Pride march to be policed it was wrong for officers to actively participate because it breached their professional oath to operate with impartiality. Allowing the judicial review, Mr Justice Linden said: 'The fact that the officers had publicly stated their support for transgender rights by taking part in the 2024 march would be likely to give the impression that they may not deal with the matter fairly and impartially.' He went on: 'It is not hard to imagine circumstances in which the officers in question might be called on to deal with a clash between gender critical people and supporters of gender ideology, and therefore situations where the former had cause for concern as to whether they were being dealt with impartially.' The court also heard how during the march there were pro-Palestinian protesters chanting slogans such as: 'From the River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free', 'No Pride in Genocide' and 'Toute le monde deteste la police'. The case was supported by Kathleen Stock, a gender-critical professor, and Harry Miller, co-founder of the campaign group Fair Cop, which seeks to 'remove politics from policing'. Professor Stock said: 'For me, the sight of the Northumbria Police either participating in Pride marches, supporting Pride events in public statements, or using or encouraging the use of Progress or rainbow flags, emblems, lanyards or other symbols associated with trans causes in a public-facing way, conveys its support for gender ideology. 'If that is not the force's intention, it is certainly its effect.' It is not clear how the ruling will impact on the force's plans to police this year's event, which is taking place this weekend. Mr Miller said: 'The significance of this ruling means that in future the police will attend events like this at their peril. 'But it is sad that we had to go to court to challenge something that was so blindingly obvious.' He said the ruling should bring an end to police officers attending such events and wearing associated livery. 'The clarity in the ruling should have a profound effect on Chief Constables across the UK,' Mr Miller told the Telegraph. 'Pride is political in the same way that any protest is political. Police engagement should therefore be solely operational. No lanyards, flags, whistles or painted cars. Just good, honest bobbies remaining polite and keeping the peace.' In his concluding remarks the judge said the findings only related to the 2024 event, adding: 'It will be a matter for the Defendant to consider, in the light of what I have said in this judgment, whether her current proposed approach to the 2025 Event should remain as it is.' In a statement following the ruling, a spokesman for Northumbria Police said: 'The officers, staff and volunteers of Northumbria Police are dedicated and passionate about providing each and every person of our wonderful region with an outstanding policing service. 'In doing so, we recognise not all communities share the same level of confidence in policing for a variety of reasons. We want to ensure everyone knows that we are absolutely here for them when they need us. 'Part of that is us being visible in those communities and playing an active part in our force area. Throughout the year, we will have an important role to play in a variety of events, including parades and festivals. 'During these events while our primary aim is to keep people safe, it also provides us with an opportunity to engage with people including those who may have less confidence in policing. It is vitally important they feel supported and we continue to build their trust in us. 'That is why we felt it important to challenge the case which was brought against us and which has implications for wider policing. 'We will work through the ruling to understand the implications, while staying true to our values of fairness, visibility, and support for all.' Other forces are currently looking at the ruling to see how it could impact on their approach to the policing similar events. Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said: 'Every week police officers and staff will as part of their duties take part in thousands of events up and down the country, from community events at village halls through to large scale events like carnivals, parades and festivals. 'However, we recognise that policing must also maintain its impartiality, including in the types of events it supports and plays an active part in. 'We are working through the detail of this judgment and will ensure this decision is communicated to forces for them to consider. 'We are also working with the College of Policing on broader guidance which will help local forces make decisions around participation in events to maintain their impartiality. 'Policing values all our communities and will continue to police in a way that aims to build trust and confidence, including among those who have less confidence in our service. 'This is the cornerstone of good policing and especially neighbourhood policing. Our desire to ensure we recognise and provide good policing for all communities will remain unchanged.' Newcastle United ban Earlier this year Northumbria Police apologised to Ms Smith, who is a season ticket holder at Newcastle United, following an investigation that took place when she expressed gender critical views on social media. She was accused of being transphobic by a complainant who told Newcastle United that trans people would not feel safe sitting near her. A hate crime investigation was launched and she was banned by the club. Northumbria Police later admitted crucial elements of their investigation into the claims were not acceptable. It said that while there was no misconduct by its officers, the way they handled her case and similar hate crime reports in future should be subject to further training.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Northumbria Police Newcastle Pride plans face fresh legal action
A police force has been threatened with fresh legal action over plans to allow its officers to identify as police during an upcoming Pride Wednesday, a judge ruled Northumbria Police's decision to allow uniformed officers to march at last year's Newcastle Pride should not have been allowed due to concerns over Smith, the claimant in the judicial review, said she will take further legal action against the force if it goes ahead with plans to allow off-duty officers to wear T-shirts identifying themselves as such at this year's force declined to comment on whether it would change its position and said it was working through the judge's ruling. Ms Smith, who describes herself as a lesbian who is "gender critical", claimed Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine and her officers' participation in Pride 2024 meant they would have been unable to remain impartial if a dispute between those with similar beliefs and transgender rights supporters had Justice Linden upheld her claim following a hearing at the High Court in Leeds, stating the chief constable's duty to uphold impartiality and the perception of it outweighed other considerations. During the judicial review, the chief constable's lawyer confirmed Northumbria Police would not allow uniformed officers to take part in Pride 2025, which is set to begin on the lawyer said off-duty officers would be able to take part while wearing T-shirts which indicated "they are serving officers".The force also said it intends for uniformed officers to staff a stall at the event, although they will not be allowed to exhibit Pride judge made no ruling on Northumbria's plans for this year's event. But Ms Smith, named Lindsey in the legal documents, described the 2025 plans as "plainly unlawful" and said she would take legal action if authorisation was not rescinded."Her [Mrs Jardine's] public statements in the light of the ruling show a complete absence of reflection on a judgement that was highly critical of her deeply flawed decision regarding Pride 2024 – a decision that caused her and her officers to breach their professional duties," she Smith has called for the force to only allow police officers to attend the march "in a purely personal capacity" and for Pride insignia to be removed from police vehicles. On Wednesday, the force said officers have "an important role to play in a variety of events"."During these events, while our primary aim is to keep people safe, it also provides us with an opportunity to engage with people including those who may have less confidence in policing," a spokesperson said."It is vitally important they feel supported and we continue to build their trust in us."That is why we felt it important to challenge the case which was brought against us and which has implications for wider policing." Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
