This is a watershed moment for the Metropolitan Police Service and UK Policing. We acknowledge the findings of the Casey report that concludes that the Met Police is ‘institutionally homophobic’.

The report around accounts of homophobic behaviours is uncomfortable and hugely upsetting to read.

And rightly so.

As a Network, we exist to empower and support our staff to deliver the best possible service to victims and communities through having LGBT+ inclusive Police forces. Policing is more LGBT+ inclusive than we have ever been, but as the Casey report documents there is still homophobic discrimination and bias, which leads to negative experiences of colleagues, victims and communities.

Now is the time for fundamental change and as a Network we will work with Police forces and Stakeholders to provide the Policing service that the public deserve, a service they can trust and a service that treats them with dignity and respect. There can be no place in policing for homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, and we are actively making policing a place that is anti discrimination of any kind.