Sex Matters welcomes review of police politicisation
The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman KC MP, has written to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Andy Cooke, to raise concerns about police involvement in politically contested matters including “gender identity”, critical race theory and climate activism.
She has ordered a review of how much political involvement by the police “may be impacting on the effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy of operational policing in England and Wales by influencing policing policy, priorities and practice.” The review, to be completed by March 2024, will look at:
- policies and processes that go further than, or contravene the Equality Act 2010
- training quality and impartiality and the role of external organisation
- errors have been made in relation to operational decision-making (for example, in light of the Miller case in 2021) and the operational value of non-crime hate incidents
- the role of independent advisory groups’ that are consulted on revisions to policy or process
- communication with the public, including via social media
- whether there are systemic issues that prevent policing from being, or being seen to be, impartial, especially in contentious matters.
Sex Matters yesterday launched a campaign and letter calling on the Prime Minister to “defend us”. It highlights how gender ideology promotes, encourages and excuses violence against women and how it has corrupted the police force and criminal-justice system.
The letter has already received over 3,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Maya Forstater, executive director of Sex Matters, said:
“It is high time that the police stopped being a mouthpiece for Stonewall and other political movements and got back to policing without fear or favour. We welcome the home secretary’s review, and in particular that it will look all the mechanisms that embed gender ideology into policing including policies, training, staff networks, advisory groups and public communications. This list corresponds with the areas where police forces have been chasing Stonewall points rather than following the law and their duty of impartiality and public service. Stonewall law is corruption wrapped in a pink and blue flag.”
Police Forces that are or have been members of the Stonewall Champions scheme: Avon and Somerset Police, Cheshire Police, Derbyshire Constabulary, Dorset Police, Durham Constabulary, Dyfed Powys Police, Hampshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Humberside Constabulary, Lancashire Constabulary, Leicestershire Police, Merseyside Police, Metropolitan Police Service, North Wales Police, Northumbria Police, Nottinghamshire Police, Police Scotland, Staffordshire Police, Suffolk Constabulary, Surrey Police, Sussex Police, West Midlands Police, West Yorkshire Police and Wiltshire Police.