Pride officers told: 'Don't put rainbows on your uniforms'

Top cop tells police working at LGBTQ+ event they can't wear badges or symbols

- JAMES HOLT

POLICE officers have been told they cannot decorate their uniforms with rainbow badges and patches at this month’s Manchester Pride.

The M.E.N. has learned that Chief Constable Stephen Watson has told officers that, if they are in uniform and working at the event later this month, they cannot adorn it with any Pride-related emblems. Officers who are off-duty have his permission to wear their uniforms to Pride, it’s understood, but not to decorate them with anything.

At the same time, it’s understood that Manchester Pride had initially told GMP that it does not want offduty officers marching in uniform at all at the parade part of the event for the second year running.

It means GMP officers taking part in the parade on August 26 will have to stick to a dress code which suits both sides.

A source within GMP has claimed that Mr Watson’s more ‘old-fashioned’ approach means he refers to the uniform as ‘the King’s cloth’, and that as such it shouldn’t be tampered with.

The news follows a decision made by Manchester Pride last year, in which off-duty Greater Manchester Police officers were asked not to attend the parade in uniform, after organisers warned of ‘increased levels of concern’ about the effect of the presence of cops in police gear at events on some members of the LGBTQ+ community.