In a shock move Greater Manchester Police has banned the use of the rainbow liveried police car at all Pride events including Oldham Pride.

The policy U-turn has triggered outrage with members of the Oldham Pride committee condemning the force for ‘distancing’ themselves from LGBTQ+ people who are suffering hate crime.

The news was broken to Reverend David Austin, Chair of Oldham Pride, on Monday (July 18) in a phone call from PCSO Aidan Taylor who was arranging the Pride car for Oldham Pride this weekend.

Speaking to The Oldham Times, Reverend David Austin said the Chief Constable at Greater Manchester Police, Stephen Watson, who took up the post in May last year, has “recently decided” he does not want to use the police car with the Pride livery on, despite it being used and “well received” at the Rochdale in Rainbows Pride event just last month.

Reverend Austin has gone to the National LGBT+ Police Network with his concerns over the policy U-turn which he says equates to GMP ‘shooting themselves in the foot’.

He said: “I had a response, and they said the Chief Constable here is not wanting police officers to have anything that identifies them with Pride, such as rainbow shoelaces, rainbow epaulettes, and rainbow badges, or anything livery on their vehicles.

“Partly they are saying it’s because there is hate crime against the police and police are getting assaulted or vehicles are being damaged, but it’s ironic that police are coming to Pride to help LGBT people who are suffering hate crime because of their gender or sexuality and are now distancing themselves from that rather than showing solidarity and embracing diversity."

Reverend Austin has also posted a response he was forwarded via email from Lee Broadstock, Chief Inspector and Co-Chair of the GMP Pride Network, on the Oldham Pride Facebook page.

It stated the Chief Constable had previously stated he did not permit the wearing of rainbow epaulettes or laces at Pride events by police and this extended to the rainbow police car.

It added: “GMP and the Pride Network will continue to support and attend Pride events across GM, we will sadly no longer be using the Pride car, access to the vehicle itself is now very limited, and the livery is also no longer fit for purpose, and approval for a new set will not be granted.

“Officers from Oldham district will still be supporting the Oldham Pride event, community engagement will continue minus the car.”

GMP and the Pride Network launched the world’s first rainbow liveried police car in 2015 and the car was used for the first time at Oldham Pride that same year.

Reacting to the policy change, Crompton Liberal Democrat Cllr Louie Hamblett, who is a member of Oldham Pride committee, said: “With a force now in special measures you would think they would want to be doing all they can to work with the community to rebuild trust and confidence in policing.

“Decisions like this from Chief Constable Watson seem counterintuitive and drag policing backwards into its hard-line, unpassionate past.

“I really sympathise with LGBTQ+ staff who will now feel they cannot show how proud they are to both work for GMP and be out as members of the community.”

In an official statement, Chief Inspector Lee Broadstock insisted GMP’s support of Pride Events “had not changed” and the force will continue supporting the LGBTQ community, both in Oldham and other districts, using GMP liveried cars and usual police uniform.

He added: “Having a presence at events like this shows the LGBTQ community that the police are inclusive, representative, and keen to have a diverse workforce by actively seeking to encourage people to apply to join us.

"We will continue to engage and participate at Pride events across Greater Manchester throughout the summer.”

Reverend Austin’s comments, combined with those made by other GM Pride organisers, have triggered a meeting between GM Pride Organisers and GMP this Thursday (July 21) at 6.30pm to address the concerns raised.