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Liverpool Pride 2016
THE Chief Constable of Merseyside, Andy
Cooke alongside ACC Ian Critchley, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Cllr Sue
Murphy and representatives from Merseyside Police will once again be taking part
in this year's Liverpool Pride Parade, on Saturday, 30 July 2016. This is the
1st time a Chief Constable of Merseyside has marched in the Parade, and is Chief
Constable Cooke's 1st Pride event as Chief. Officers will be in uniform for the
march through the City Centre, alongside civilian staff, friends, families,
lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) allies, as well as partner agencies and
other organisations. This is the 6th year that officers and staff from the force
will be taking part.
The Force's LGBT support network is organising
Police Officers and Staff taking part and they will march under the banner of
"Police with Pride." The march will process through the City Centre
before finishing at St George's Hall Plateau where an afternoon of events will
be held. The force will have a stall in the marketplace area with information
about hate crime, recruitment and the force's insight scheme where people can
join the Police for a day to see what happens.
For the 1st time this year, the force will also have a "Police with Pride
Car" and those involved in the march will see in situ at (TBC). The
Force will also be taking part in the "Come out of the Shadows"
event, in the run up to this year's Pride. Force headquarters at Canning Place,
will be 1 of a number of iconic buildings across Merseyside to be lit up in
rainbow colours in support of the LGBT community.
Supt Jenny Sims, Silver Commander for the event, said:- "Once again
Merseyside Police would like to welcome everyone, both residents and visitors,
taking part in this year's Liverpool Pride, to the City. "Officers will be
visible throughout the event to help make sure everyone has a great time and
enjoys it safely, but as with any event there are also some simple steps people
can take to help protect themselves and their belongings:-
► Be aware of your surroundings and those around you as Pride will be a
really busy event.
► Take care of your property and keep valuables close; don't leave bags
and mobile phones unattended at any time.
► Keep wallets, purses and cash safe and out of sight.
► Pride is very much a family event so keep children close by as there
will be large crowds.
► If you are going to enjoy the city's renowned pubs, bars and clubs,
please do so safely. Drink responsibly, stick with your friends and plan your
route home and you should have a great time. Pride promises to be another
fantastic day in a summer of big events for Liverpool and I'm confident this
year's event will be a success"
Merseyside Police Chief Constable, Andy Cooke said:- "I am delighted that
once again our force is taking part in Liverpool Pride 2016 and I am proud as
Chief Constable of Merseyside, to be marching alongside LGBT colleagues from
Merseyside Police. It is an opportunity to show our commitment to helping the
communities we serve become places where people can truly be themselves, free
from prejudice and discrimination. Merseyside's support of an event which
celebrates diversity and takes a united stand against hate crime is particularly
important given the terrible incident in Orlando in June in which so many
innocent people lost their lives while simply enjoying a night out. We cannot
allow the minority of people in society who are motivated by hate because they
resent, disapprove of or are ignorant of diversity to intimidate or hurt other
people just because they perceive them to be different. By celebrating diversity
through events like Pride we make it clear that Merseyside Police will not
tolerate hate crime of any kind and that those who commit hate crimes have no
place in our communities. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with
our LGBT partners in both Policing and participating in today's event and I hope
everyone enjoys what will undoubtedly will be a very safe and successful
Liverpool Pride 2016."
Merseyside's Deputy Police Commissioner Cllr Sue Murphy said:- "I am
thrilled to be joining in with the Pride celebrations this year. It will be an
honour to march with members of the Commissioner's team, the Chief Constable and
officers and staff from the Force alongside hundreds of members of the LGBT
community and their family and friends. Liverpool Pride is not only an
opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our region, it is a chance to raise
awareness of homophobia and transphobia and send out a powerful, united message
that hate will not be tolerated in our communities. In the wake of the awful
incidents in Orland last month this message has never been more important. Pride
goes from strength to strength every year and I hope this year's event will be
the biggest and best yet, with even more people coming out to show their support
and demonstrate that there is no place for hate in Liverpool."
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