This is the 22nd police force in the UK to say sorry to LGBTs
London, UK – 13th April 2026
Staffordshire Police has issued a formal apology for the past “ill-treatment” of LGBT+ people, acknowledging that previous policing practices often caused harm and eroded trust within the LGBT+ community.
It is the 22nd UK police force to say sorry for past homophobic policies.
In a letter to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs expressed “sincere regret” and a “heartfelt apology” for the way laws criminalising homosexuality were enforced. She recognised that, while officers were expected to uphold the law, “some individuals in policing acted in ways that went beyond what the law required and caused harm.”
She was responding to an appeal from the Peter Tatchell Foundation’s “Apologise now!” campaign.
READ THE CHIEF CONSTABLE’S LETTER HERE
The apology admits that enforcement was often “inappropriate, discriminatory and fell short of the standards the public should expect.” It also acknowledges the lasting negative impact this mistreatment has had on trust and confidence in policing among LGBT+ communities.
The Acting Chief Constable highlighted steps taken to improve relations, including the work of the LGBTQ+ staff network, expanded hate crime reporting mechanisms and specialist training on LGBT+ issues for officers. She also pointed to a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination within the force and initiatives such as “Hate Crime Spotlight” to strengthen responses to anti-LGBT+ incidents.
Responding to the apology, Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, said:
“This apology is a much-appreciated acknowledgement of the suffering caused by decades of discriminatory policing. We are pleased to see that Staffordshire police are committed to match their words with sustained action nowadays to ensure LGBT+ people are protected, respected and treated equally.
“The Peter Tatchell Foundation continues to call on police forces across the UK to formally recognise past abuses, say sorry and commit to ongoing engagement with LGBT+ communities.
“So far 22 forces have apologised, including London’s Metropolitan Police. This is many times more police apologies than in any other country in the world.
“We are continuing to press the other 23 Chief Constables who have not said sorry to follow the lead of Staffordshire and the 21 other forces. Notable refusals to say sorry include the Chief Constables of the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland – the three forces with the worst history of homophobic witch-hunts.
“While Staffordshire Police say “there is still more work to do”, the apology marks a significant moment in confronting a painful chapter in policing history—and a reminder that rebuilding trust requires both honesty about the past and vigilance in the present,” said Mr Tatchell.