National Co-Ordination Group

The National Co-Ordination Group (NCG) are the elected leaders for the National LGBT+ Police Network, led by the Co-Chairpersons. Each are serving officers and police staff that volunteer to work on the NCG in addition to their roles in their respective forces. Click the images below to learn more about each member of the NCG.


For details of the Regional Representatives that feed in to the NCG, please visit the Regional Networks page.

Co-Chairs

Chief Inspector Lee Broadstock

Co-Chair of the National LGBT+ Police Network

About Chief Inspector Lee Broadstock

I am a uniformed Chief Inspector at Greater Manchester Police and have previously worked within a neighbourhood policing capacity. This involved covering the village area of Manchester city centre which has one of the most vibrant LGBT+ night time economy areas in the country, famous for Canal Street and also home to a number of LGBT+ community organisations and charities.

I had socialised for years in LGBT+ spaces and particularly in the village area of Manchester and always considered the area to be a safe and welcoming space. It was when working in and around the village that I saw the issues of targeted hate and discrimination still used against members of the LGBT+ community. I became increasingly passionate and determined to improve how GMP tackled LGBT+ issues and to improve the relationship between the LGBT+ community and the police in Greater Manchester and beyond.

I joined the Gay Police Association and the internal staff network in 2005 and that year marched for the first time at Manchester Pride. I continued to join the Police With Pride team at Manchester Pride but did not get actively involved in the network until 2011 when I was approached by a colleague who was suffering from LGBT+ bullying and discrimination from his shift.  At that time the Gay Police Association was no longer functioning or providing support to colleagues, and our internal staff network had stalled due to its founder Julie Barnes-Frank having retired.

I wasn’t prepared to accept anyone within the police being subject to any form of bullying and discrimination, and it is fair to say that this really ignited the fire within to ensure that this was challenged at all levels and staff felt supported.

I was elected as chair of the network and I refreshed and relaunched the network as the GMP Pride Network, it previously being called LAGSA (Lesbian And Gay Staff Affiliation). I felt that it was the right time for the network to move towards being more LGBT+ inclusive – the feedback from some LGBT+ colleagues had been that they did not feel the network supported or represented them.

The support I received when refreshing our network from my colleagues in our region (the North West) was amazing and I have made some lifetime friends as a result. The working relationship that was active in the North West as the ‘Police with Pride’ team helped to inspire and create the new structure and organisation we have now as the National LGBT+ Police Network.

I am really proud of how we have progressed both within the force and nationally. In GMP I am particularly proud of some of the firsts we have achieved, including the launch of the world’s first rainbow liveried police car.

At a national level it is so inspiring to work alongside some amazing people within forces that are determined to improve the lives of LGBT+ people.

Lee is also a trustee of the LGBT Foundation in Manchester and an LGBT+ advisor to the Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.

Police Constable Steph Lawrence

Co-Chair of the National LGBT+ Police Network

About Police Constable Steph Lawrence

I have been a police officer for 17 years, and a public servant for 28 years. In every service I’ve worked I have had involvement with staff networks, so it seemed natural to continue this in policing. I started chairing my local LGBT+ network in 2015, I received an award from our local pride organisation for services to the public in 2018. For me stepping up and helping to lead the network is more of a moral and ethical duty as opposed to one of personal interest, or organisational gain. I am a huge believer that if you serve others well you will receive ultimate fulfilment. I fully understand the pain caused by discrimination and other adverse behaviours, this personal history drives me forward in doing more to support others, with a determined will to minimise the harm caused to all involved.

I applied for my current national position because I really wanted to make a difference in policing, as I now enter into the last quarter of my policing career – although I’m not going anywhere soon. It is important we ensure we have the right people in policing, I do know & have confidence that most of our people are decent to the core. It is vitally important we make policing an unwelcome place for the harm doers and those who behave in a prejudicial manner towards others. I could not be more determined in my day to day role in making this happen.

I’m delighted to be working with such a remarkable, professional, resilient, & knowledgeable group of colleagues, who I know will help me to raise our people higher when they feel downtrodden, undervalued & personally attacked. There are times when I do stumble, but for some reason I always manage to find my feet and pick myself back up again – with even more gusto & determination. Let us raise everyone higher, to be the very best they can be, which will ultimately deliver the best possible service to the public! Not only do I consider this appointment a significant personal challenge, but the greatest honour of my professional working life.

Police Constable Dan Low

Secretary of the National LGBT+ Police Network

About Police Constable Dan Low

I’m Dan, the Secretary of the National LGBT+ Police Network.

My day job is being a Response Officer for the Metropolitan Police, based in Camden, which means I get to meet a variety of different people within the community on a daily basis.

I initially joined Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a Special Constable in 2009, to build my confidence – as I was a shy and quiet 21 year old! After several months of exposure to the policing world, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the remainder of my career and joined the ‘regulars’ in 2012. I eventually transferred to Suffolk and then to the Metropolitan Police.

I grew up in a village where there was no LGBT+ community and I had to work things out for myself. I had no role models to look up to and I had a very tough time coming out to my family and friends.

My experience empowered me to become a role model for those who needed support and show people it is okay to be your authentic self.

I am so proud to be a part of a National Network that strives for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and knowing that we are making a difference to both policing and the LGBT+ community. Education and Knowledge is power; it’s how we turn ignorance into understanding.

Discrimination is still very much alive both within the workplace and within our communities; I am committed to helping to eradicate all forms of discrimination and I am a big believer in working together as one to achieve this.

Remember, don’t be afraid to be your authentic self!

Detective Sergeant Tracy O'Hara QPM

European Representative for the National LGBT+ Network

About Detective Sergeant Tracy O'Hara QPM

I am Tracy O’Hara and I was Co-Chair the National Network from 2017 to 2020.

I am a Detective Sergeant in Merseyside. In the main I have worked in investigations across all areas of crime and most recently as the force’s liaison officer for crimes against sex workers. I began my career in uniform working in Liverpool city centre, which gave me an insight into serious crimes and made me know I had to become a detective.

I became involved in Merseyside Police’s LGBT+ Network around 2001 when I arrived at a crossroads in my career. The options were leave or stay. It was a tough work environment and I did not feel able to be myself; it was not okay to be gay and it was tough enough being a woman. I got tired of hiding who I was, who I was with and what I did at weekends – so I thought, leave, it’s the only option.

I spoke to my confidante – my trainer from Bruche (the police training school) – who told me: “Stay and change it from within. You cannot change it if you are not in it, go meet the gay police network”. So I did, and a new world opened up to me.

I became more involved and began as chair not long after. This kept me in the career I love – this is why I do what I do now as co-chair of this network of networks.

I still have that passion to change from within. I have seen many changes, some I never dreamt possible – marriage, pension and adoption rights, parenting, and such wonderful participation at community events, especially at local prides. The most satisfying though is those joining feeling able to be themselves. What a difference this makes to not just the person but to their police service. We are better motivated, we are driven and we stay in work when we can be ourselves. It is incumbent on all of us to create that environment for us all to flourish – and I mean all.

I aspire to be that person I needed when I was young and I will continue to be that person for others.

Tracy received the BAWP Officer of the Year award in 2009 followed by the International Officer of the Year award in the same year.  In 2017, Tracy was awarded the Queens Police Medal for services to LGBT+ matters within policing

Police Constable Al Smith

Trans Lead for the National LGBT+ Police Network

About Police Constable Al Smith

I’m a Police Constable with West Midlands Police, which I joined in 1998 because it was one of the few forces at the time that included sexual orientation in its equal opportunities statement. I’m an intelligence officer – a role I’d describe as supporting my colleagues to work smarter rather than harder to deliver intelligence-led policing.

I’ve been a member of my local LGBT+ staff network since I joined and am currently my force’s lead for gender identity, as well the network’s lead for trans matters. I was previously part of the executive committee of the National Trans Police Association since its formation in 2010 until it merged with the National LGBT+ Network in 2019, so this has helped for a smooth changeover.

I started my transition in 2007 and encountered various hurdles along the way, so the work I do is to ensure others have a smoother transition in the workplace. These hurdles weren’t intended, but there was a lack of embedding trans equality because it was perceived to only affect a small minority of people, despite the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations being introduced in 1999 and amended in 2008. It’s now been 10 years since the introduction of the Equality Act 2010, with its accompanying public sector equality duty to eliminate discrimination, to advance equality of opportunities and foster good relations. The current recruitment drive of police officers offers the police service a great opportunity to really deliver on this duty; to promote itself as an employer of choice for trans individuals who want to serve their community and make a difference.

My work also includes raising awareness across forces as to the main concerns of trans communities, which are not complicated and are on par with those of anyone:  being treated in a respectful manner, so addressed by their correct name and pronoun, as well as sensitive information related to their gender identity being treated confidentially. I’d really like to see statutory anonymity that’s already in place for victims of serious sexual assaults extended to victims of LGBT+ hate crime, to remove one of the main barriers to reporting.

The current government’s LGBT+ action plan will also have an impact on forces, for example, in its areas relating to safety, workplace, rights and the law and data monitoring. There is much to be positive about despite the current tenor of public debate concerning those who are trans.