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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Now Police Scotland chiefs say no uniformed officers to take part in Pride march
Police officers in uniform will not take part in a Pride event in Scotland's biggest city on Saturday following a landmark High Court judgment. The Mail revealed yesterday that bosses of the force faced mounting pressure to ban officers from participating in the controversial marches. On Wednesday, the High Court ruled that Northumbria Police, one of Britain's largest forces, breached impartiality by marching at an LGBT + event. On Friday Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said no uniformed officers would march at Pride in Glasgow today - in contrast with the situation last year, when dozens of officers were paid to take part. It is understood that a decision had been taken not to participate prior to the court ruling - but plans for minor 'engagement' were dropped after the High Court judgment. This could have included officers manning stalls or taking part in related events at the Pride march. Last night Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Sharon Dowey said: 'This is a welcome decision by Police Scotland. 'Given the SNP's sustained cuts to frontline policing, it is common sense that resources should be directed towards keeping people safe.' Explaining the police position, Mr Speirs said: 'Police Scotland has vast experience in policing events and in the coming days we will continue to do so in a professional, engaging, and proportionate manner. 'Glasgow's Pride will be no different and we will continue to engage closely with event organisers, although no officers will participate in forthcoming events in uniform. 'We continue to review the UK High Court judgment on Northumbria Police's participation in Newcastle Pride 2024 and its implications. 'We will ensure Police Scotland's response to events continues to be in line with our values and code of ethics, providing a professional and impartial service which upholds the human rights of all.' The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), representing rank-and-file officers, and former senior officers, had backed the High Court ruling earlier this week, piling pressure on top brass to ban uniformed police participation in Pride events. Last night SPF general secretary David Kennedy said it 'proudly supports the principles and values of the Pride movement, including equality, inclusion, and the right of all individuals - regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - to live free from discrimination and prejudice'. But he added that 'we also support the operational judgment that police officers should not march in uniform while on duty at Pride events'. Mr Kennedy said: 'Participating in any march while on duty, including Pride, can give rise to questions around neutrality and may impact perceptions of police objectivity. 'Officers who wish to take part in Pride events in their own time should be supported and encouraged to do so, and we welcome efforts to facilitate this wherever possible. 'Supporting Pride and supporting operational clarity are not mutually exclusive—we believe both can, and should, co-exist.' Welcoming the High Court ruling, Kate Barker, chief executive of LGB Alliance, the UK's only LGB charity (excluding transgender people) said last night: 'LGB people have been deeply distressed by how it has become hijacked by gender identity ideology in recent years.' 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. Meanwhile, the Mail can also reveal that officers have signed Pride flags in a show of solidarity with the LGBT+ movement. In 2023, officers were photographed signing flags as part of Pride Month. Argyll and West Dunbartonshire officers marked the occasion by signing a Pride flag which was sent round police stations. Chief Superintendent Lynn Ratcliff, who was the final person to sign it to show she was an LGBT+ 'ally', said she wanted her division to be the 'most inclusive area in Police Scotland'. In 2022, a Pride flag was sent round police stations in Edinburgh to 'allow officers to sign it to show support to LGBT colleagues and communities'. Last night Kath Murray of gender-critical think-tank Murray Blackburn Mackenzie said it is 'hard to think of a clearer example of institutional capture than literally signing allegiance' to the Pride flag.
The National
4 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
4 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.
STV News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- STV News
Fire service 999 response times slowest in decade last year, figures show
The Tories have accused the Scottish Government of jeopardising public safety through 'savage' fire service budget cuts after 999 response times hit their slowest level in 10 years. Data obtained from the fire service by the Scottish Conservatives via Freedom of Information showed that in 2024 the average time for an appliance to arrive at the scene following a 999 call was eight minutes and 20 seconds. This was up from an average of six minutes and 51 seconds in 2014, with response times increasing almost every consecutive year over the decade. Response times for 'risk to life' incidents where the chances of encountering a casualty are considered to be much higher have also risen over the decade, from seven minutes and 13 seconds in 2014 to eight minutes and 42 seconds last year. The Scottish Conservatives said that over the 10 years the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) saw its funding cut in real terms by £57 million by the Scottish Government, while the number of firefighters fell by almost 1,000. The party's community safety minister Sharon Dowey MSP called for action to tackle the issues. She said: 'Our firefighters do an incredible job, but the SNP's savage and sustained budget cuts are putting public safety in jeopardy. 'It's little wonder that emergency response times have hit their slowest rate in 10 years, when the nationalists have imposed a real terms cut of £57 million and the number of firefighters has dropped by 1,000 within a decade. 'On the SNP's watch, 18 fire stations have no running water, most fire engines are over 10 years old, and many stations are in poor condition with several set to be closed. 'Their continual contempt for our fire service and failure to maintain crucial firefighter numbers is an abject dereliction of duty which will almost certainly have resulted in lives being lost. 'It is crucial that SNP ministers step in now and urgently protect the public by giving the fire service the resources they desperately need.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We continue to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) with substantial year-on-year budget increases that enable our firefighters to deliver a high standard of services and keep our communities safe. 'This year's Budget includes £412.2 million for SFRS – an increase of £18.8 million and Scotland continues to have more firefighters per capita than other parts of the UK. 'Whilst the deployment of SFRS resources is an operational matter for the chief fire officer, their targeted approach to risk and allocation of resource overtook the focus given to response times some years ago – and the service continues to respond to every emergency incident with the appropriate level of resource.' SFRS has been asked for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
SNP cuts blamed as fire service 999 response times slowest in decade
The Scottish Conservatives have pointed to 'savage and sustained budget cuts' by the Scottish Government Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Emergency calls to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) are now responded to more slowly than at any point in the past ten years, according to new figures. Statistics obtained by the Scottish Conservatives show responses to 999 calls have slowed almost every consecutive year between 2014 and 2024, including for those calls where it was considered there was a high risk of casualty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 2014, it took a median of six minutes and 51 seconds for a 999 call to result in the fire service arriving on site. By 2024, this had increased to a median of eight minutes and 20 seconds – a rise of 21 per cent. Firefighters running through a practice drill | PA There was a similar increase among cases classified as 'possible life risk' incidents, where the chances of encountering a casualty are considered to be much higher. In 2014, it took a median of seven minutes and 13 seconds for a 999 call to result in the fire service arriving on site. By 2024, this had increased to eight minutes and 42 seconds – a 20 per cent increase. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The SFRS has seen its budget cut by £57 million in real terms over ten years, with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) repeatedly raising the alarm over 'decades of underfunding' and the need for sustained investment. Scottish Conservative community safety spokeswoman Sharon Dowey said: 'Our firefighters do an incredible job, but the SNP's savage and sustained budget cuts are putting public safety in jeopardy. 'It's little wonder that emergency response times have hit their slowest rate in ten years, when the nationalists have imposed a real terms cut of £57million and the number of firefighters has dropped by one thousand within a decade. 'On the SNP's watch, 18 fire stations have no running water, most fire engines are over ten years old, and many stations are in poor condition with several set to be closed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Their continual contempt for our fire service and failure to maintain crucial firefighter numbers is an abject dereliction of duty which will almost certainly have resulted in lives being lost. 'It is crucial that SNP ministers step in now and urgently protect the public by giving the fire service the resources they desperately need.' Fire stations without running water The Tories previously highlighted figures showing 18 fire stations across Scotland have no running water. These are primarily located across the Highlands and rural areas, including in Cromarty, Foyers and Spean Bridge. Last month, Colin Brown of the FBU said the service had seen year-on-year cuts to jobs and services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Decades of underfunding have left the Scottish fire service with a crumbling estate and an eye-watering £800 million hole in their capital finances,' he said. 'What we need is sustained investment in staff, stations and equipment to keep our communities safe.' The SFRS is currently carrying out a 'service delivery review' to look at ways of reshaping and modernising the organisation. Its website said the primary aim is to ensure resources, such as staff, stations and appliances, are matched to operational risk and demand across Scotland. The proposals will be part of a public consultation throughout the summer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The plans include the closure of eight 'long-term dormant' fire stations in rural locations. A further five stations are earmarked for potential closure across Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are also plans to repair or rebuild stations to ensure firefighters have access to modern facilities, while 'a number of appliances and firefighters could be transferred to other locations' to meet risk and demand. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'We continue to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service with substantial year-on-year budget increases that enable our firefighters to deliver a high standard of services and keep our communities safe. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This year's Budget includes £412.2 million for SFRS – an increase of £18.8 million and Scotland continues to have more firefighters per capita than other parts of the UK.
