This is the 23rd police force in the UK to say sorry to LGBTs
Birmingham, UK – 20 July 2026
West Midlands Police has issued a formal apology for the “historic mistreatment” of LGBT+ people, acknowledging that previous policing practices caused lasting harm and eroded trust within LGBT+ communities.
It is the 23rd UK police force to say sorry for past homophobic policies, as a result of the campaign by the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
In a letter to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, Acting Chief Constable Scott Green expressed “sincere regret” and offered a “genuine apology” for the historic enforcement of laws criminalising homosexuality. He acknowledged that laws were wrongly used to proactively target LGBT+ people, particularly gay and bisexual men, ruining lives and leaving a lasting legacy of fear, injustice and mistrust.
He is the latest police chief to say sorry in response to the appeal from the Peter Tatchell Foundation’s “Apologise Now!“ campaign.
READ THE CHIEF CONSTABLE’S LETTER IN FULL HERE
The apology acknowledges that the enforcement of laws before the decriminalisation of homosexuality was often “inappropriate, discriminatory and fell short of the standards any member of the public should expect.” It also recognises the lasting damage this caused to trust and confidence in policing among LGBT+ communities.
The Acting Chief Constable also highlighted the force’s commitment to rebuilding relationships with LGBT+ communities. He pointed to the work of West Midlands Police’s LGBTQ+ staff network, expanded opportunities to report hate crime, specialist detective oversight of hate crime investigations, and the force’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Strategy, including its “Policing without fear or favour” cultural competence programme.
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 West Midlands Police are committed to matching their words with sustained action 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 23 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 remaining Chief Constables who have not yet apologised to follow the lead of West Midlands Police and the other 22 forces.
“While West Midlands Police rightly acknowledge that there is still more work to do, this apology marks a significant moment in confronting a painful chapter in policing history. Rebuilding trust requires honesty about the past, sustained engagement in the present and a commitment to equality in the future.”