Scotland Yard said on Friday that officers wishing to take part in the celebrations should do so in civilian clothes and not in police uniform, after hearing the “reasonable concerns” of the activists. Uniformed officers will continue to patrol the annual parade, which celebrates its 50th anniversary on Saturday with performances by American singer-songwriter Ava Max and British star Emeli Sandé. The decision comes after human rights activist Peter Tatchell expressed concern about the “homophobic” handling of the investigation into serial killer Stephen Port. Tatchell said the case showed that “institutional homophobia is alive and well in the Metropolitan Police” and that it would not be appropriate for uniformed officers to parade in the parade. Official Pride organizers in London later said the police uniform “upset” the balance between listening to members’ concerns and being as hospitable as possible. An investigating court found in December that fundamental weaknesses in the Port investigation “probably” contributed to three of the four deaths. Police failed to link the deaths between June 2014 and September 2015, despite striking similarities and the fact that three of the men were found in the courtyard of St Margarita Church in Barking, a few meters from Port’s house, while a fourth was found. outside his apartment. The Independent Police Department recently announced that it is re-investigating the Met in the case. Speaking after Scotland Yard’s announcement on Friday, Tatchell said: “This is the right decision given the community’s concerns about police homophobia, racism and bigotry. “I hope other Prides across the UK follow suit and ensure that the police agree not to parade in uniform.” Matt Jukes, Assistant Commissioner for the Met, said: “I understand the concerns that people have about the Met’s involvement in the London Pride. Everyone who is going to take part in the parade has asked to be part of Pride as a member of the LGBT + staff network. “I know we have to work hard, with and for many LGBT + Londoners, to regain their trust. Among my LGBT + colleagues participating in Pride are people who have their own experiences of exclusion and prejudice. “Despite the challenges that some individuals have faced, they want to get involved in building a Met that all of London can be proud of.” Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST Jukes said Pride was an opportunity for LGBT + police members to feel part of a wider community and to represent a network of staff that “supports and challenges the Met to be more inclusive”. He added: “I hope they will feel support for the event at a time when the Met as an organization is determined to listen to and respond to the concerns of LGBT + individuals and organizations.”
