AN INFLUENTIAL gay rights activist has asked Cumbria Constabulary to apologise for historic homophobia and ‘witch-hunting’ of the LGBTQ+ community.

Peter Tatchell, founder of human rights organisation The Peter Tatchell Foundation, wrote to the chief constable of Cumbria Constabulary, Rob Carden, as part of a nationwide campaign targeting all the country's chief constables to acknowledge and apologise for historical prejudice, discrimination, and abuse of the LGBTQ+ community.

Tatchell said that despite the UK passing the Sexual Offences Act 1967, which made it no longer illegal to simply be a male homosexual, remaining anti-gay laws were enforced more aggressively by the state after it was passed, adding that the criminalisation of homosexuality in the UK didn’t end until 2013.

He said the 1967 act was the first gay law reform since 1533, when anal sex was made criminal, and all other sexual acts between men were outlawed in 1885.

In total, from 1885 to 2013, nearly 100,000 men were arrested for same-sex acts nationally, he said.

In the UK, it continued to be illegal for more than two consenting men to have sex together or to be filmed or photographed having sex with another person, despite this not being the case for heterosexuals, with seven men being convicted of these offences in 1998.

The 1967 act didn’t include the armed forces or navy, and gay military personnel and seamen could still be jailed until 1994.

Gay and bisexual men and some lesbians were arrested until the 1990s for things like kissing, cuddling, and holding hands in public under public order and breach of the peace laws, he said.

According to Home Office data, there were 1,718 convictions and cautions for ‘gross indecency’ in 1989, of 2,022 recorded offences that year, which was almost as many as 2,034 in 1954.

Gross indecency laws were only repealed by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The 1967 act didn’t take effect in Northern Ireland until 2008, with Scotland’s anti-sodomy laws only taking effect in 2013.

This was an issue with UK policing generally, of which Cumbria Constabulary formed a part of.

The Met has formally apologised and appointed LGBTQ+ community liaison officers in each London borough in response.

Similar apologies were made by the chief constables of Sussex and South Yorkshire, their stance being backed by Northumbria’s chief constable.  

In the letter, he wrote: “We do not expect an apology from the police for enforcing historic homophobic laws.

“What we are requesting an apology for, is the often abusive and threatening way those laws were enforced - ways that would be deemed illegal and unacceptable today.”

“In the past, your force, and many other forces, devoted massive and disproportionate resources to hunt down LGBT+ people for consenting behaviour that harmed no one.

“While you are not responsible for past wrongs, you are head of the force that witch-hunted us and wrecked LGBT+ lives.  

“I would respectfully request that you put the past behind us by apologising to the LGBT+ community so that we can move forward together.”

News and Star:

Responding to the letter, chief constable Rob Carden said: “We acknowledge the feelings that some members of LGBTQ+ communities in Cumbria may have towards the police following historic prejudice.

“I am liaising with the chair of our LGBTQ+ association about how I could meet with the members of our community who were affected by this prejudice to discuss their concerns.

“I want to reassure our communities of our commitment to deliver an outstanding policing service to keep Cumbria safe.

“To deliver this, we must treat everyone fairly and legitimately.

“We work closely with a range of partner agencies and community groups, including those which represent LGBTQ+ communities, and are committed to ensure we have trust and confidence in our policing.

“I am proud of the good work we are doing within the organisation, and it was highlighted in our most recent HMICFRS inspection that we have an ethical and inclusive culture.

“We know hate crimes are under reported in Cumbria, including those from the LGBTQ+ community, and I want to encourage people to report crimes to us so we can investigate and provide support to those who need it.”