Police ‘breached impartiality’ by marching with Progress Pride flag, judge rules
Northumbria Police were found to have “breached impartiality” (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Northumbria Police were found to have "breached impartiality" (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
A chief constable in the north of England “breached impartiality” for allowing a police force to march with the Pride progress flag, a judge has ruled.
A judicial review challenge was brought forward by lesbian woman Lindsey Smith, who said she opposed officers from Northumbria Police “associating with messaging which was supportive of the cause of gender ideology”, as reported by The Times.
The Progress Pride flag contains symbols representing gay, trans, and intersex communities, as well as queer people of colour.
In her challenge, Smith said a police van draped in Pride progress colours at a Pride event was “indicative of support for the cause of gender ideology” and officers being involved in the parade constituted “messaging which was supportive of the cause of gender ideology, including in the form of placards, chanting, imagery or flags”.
Mr Justice Linden said in his ruling at the High Court in Leeds that chief constable Vanessa Jardine’s decision to allow officers to engage with the Pride event was “contrary to the uniformed officers’ duties of impartiality” and her “own duty of impartiality, to participate in the 2024 march in the way that they did”.
Mr Justice Linden accepted Northern Pride support “gender ideology and transgender rights” and stated the Pride event was inherently “political” wherein “those who do not agree with the position of Northern Pride on transgender rights are not welcome on marches organised by Northern Pride”.
“The fact that they wore their uniforms, marched as a contingent and carried the Police Pride and other flags demonstrated their support for the cause as police officers,” he said.
Whilst Mr Justice Linden noted the impartiality of all the officers in the force had not been compromised, there was “a perception that the force as an organisation supported gender ideology and transgender rights and/or that the aim of the chief constable is that the force should do so”.
Following the ruling, Northumbria Police did not clarify if they would be taking part in Northern Pride this year, which is set to take place this weekend.
