Linzi Smith is granted Judicial Review over police participation in Pride

[Imnobody4]

Good for Linzi. This has big ramifications, is Pride political? If so it affects schools as well.

BREAKING: The Chief Constable of Northumbria must account to the High Court for her active participation in Northern Pride last year. She was warned. She went ahead anyway.

The court has asked if she intends to actively participate again this year. She states that she will.

Now she’ll have to defend her position at a Judicial Review in July. GC women need to feel safe in Northumbria which is why Linzi Smith is bringing the action. Pride is political.”

x.com/WeAreFairCop/status/1926537757389643914?t=DTzh1NkVVmnCGkZFNHOatQ&s=19

Someone I know who was a teacher and now works on the behaviour support team in an area local to the judgement wears a pride progress rainbow lanyard.

Works for the local council.

public professionals really should not be doing so, especially those who work with vulnerable children.

And round we go:

"🚨 Further Statement Regarding My High Court Victory VS CC Vanessa Jardine And Northumbria Police 🚨

Today I have instructed my solicitors to write to the Chief Constable of Northumbria Police to threaten further legal action if she authorises officers to visibly participate in Northern Pride 2025. Despite a clear and damning judgment of her decision to authorise officers to participate in Pride 2024 she has authorised off-duty officers wearing T-shirts that show they are officers to participate in Pride 2025. This is plainly unlawful and I will take legal action if she does not rescind that authorisation. Her public statements in the light of the ruling show a complete absence of reflection on a judgement that was highly critical of her deeply flawed decision regarding Pride 2024 – a decision that caused her and her officers to breach their professional duties. It would appear that she and the Northumbria force have been completely captured by a controversial political campaign.

The Police are NOT above the law."

I haven't seen any actual response to the ruling from the police except this from ITV. Good for Linzi.

Northumbria Police participation in Newcastle Pride event ruled unlawful by high court judge | ITV News Tyne Tees https://share.google/WYvpcAFhgy8FznVRz
In a statement, a Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “The officers, staff and volunteers of Northumbria Police are dedicated and passionate about providing each and every person of our wonderful region with an outstanding policing service.“In doing so, we recognise not all communities share the same level of confidence in policing for a variety of reasons. We want to ensure everyone knows that we are absolutely here for them when they need us.“Part of that is us being visible in those communities and playing an active part in our force area. Throughout the year, we will have an important role to play in a variety of events, including parades and festivals.“During these events, while our primary aim is to keep people safe, it also provides us with an opportunity to engage with people, including those who may have less confidence in policing.“It is vitally important they feel supported and we continue to build their trust in us.“That is why we felt it important to challenge the case which was brought against us and which has implications for wider policing.“We will work through the ruling to understand the implications, while staying true to our values of fairness, visibility, and support for all.“Our commitment to providing an outstanding service to all our communities will remain unchanged.”

Throughout the year, we will have an important role to play in a variety of events, including parades and festivals

Nice way to force team all other events where the police are present

Interesting that they don't actually mention any of these other supported causes by name

It's the wide eyed "innocence". "Us, impartial? Surely not?"
The judgement (and I've read it all) was a lengthy consideration of the actions of the CC and the laws / case law regarding impartiality and it was damning about their open display of bias.

I try to avoid too much criticism of the police as I know they do a challenging job that needs public support. But responses like this show the utter clowns in charge. Their wilful failure to consider the serious implications in the judgment of having a police force openly operating with political bias and undermining public confidence in doing so.

This, and the actions of another senior officer, Surrey's Chief Constable who's an unrepentant fan of Stephen Ireland - the founder of Surrey Pride and convicted rapist of a 12 year old boy - demonstrates a crisis in leadership of the police. Some senior officers are evidently unfit for office.

In doing so, we recognise not all communities share the same level of confidence in policing for a variety of reasons.
No argument with that, but of all the communities that have had a raw deal from the police - transfolx??

Burke's I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult
springs to mind - people have had their collars felt for all sorts of things deemed 'hateful' by the trans community, and too often accepted as such by the police.

We want to ensure everyone knows that we are absolutely here for them when they need us
Now that does needs more work - especially amongst women who have a lot of examples of you absolutely NOT being there for us when we need you.

The last place the police need to be building bridges and mending fences is in the middle of a trans-dominated Pride parade.

I try to avoid too much criticism of the police as I know they do a challenging job that needs public support

Agreed.

I do hope that in about ten years time some new PC will accidentally open a dusty cupboard to find a pile of lanyards, t-shirts, bunting and car decals to be told

• yep, we used to have that stuff to promote communities but it turned out that were were actually picking sides and causing conflict. On reflection it was more sensible to just get on with policing rather than festooning the office with flags. Can't believe we used to do that

If police chiefs fail to recognise when they have lost the support and consensus of those they serve, they are not doing their job properly.

The police hold control precisely because they have public trust and operate on public census.

Step outside that and into activism which lacks public consensus you will lose trust, and you will lose control of the situation.

We are a liberal country. Power and control comes from consensus. If you start controlling through fear you step into authoritarianism. And that changes the way in which you police and maintain control.

Police chiefs would do well to be remained of these power dynamics and who is their ultimate boss. Police authority comes from grass roots support not top down power in the UK. We are not a police state.

Are there other parades and festivals that the police actively dress up and take part? Or are they eliding attending events as actual police for crowd control with turning up in rainbow helmets and twerking alongside the local furry fetishists?

My guess would be the latter - the football crowd analogy is a good one.

I have never seen a police officer even jokingly put on the colours of one of the teams when policing a football match.

They don't march / have floats at Carnival.
They don't sit in the stands and cheer at sports events they're policing
They don't take an active part on other political protests, carrying banners etc do they?
They do take an active part in Remembrance Day activities - but that's a national solemn event that's politically neutral with all political parties participating side by side.

It just seems to be Pride where they march and carry the banners representing the removal of women's rights and silencing free speech?

'BREAKING:
@northumbriapol
have sent a letter. They have completely capitulated. No cops marching in Pride. No livery on cars or stands. No flags or lanyards. Nothing. They are abandoning it all.'

From We are Fair Cop

https://x.com/WeAreFairCop/status/1946116243666129128

From Linzi Smith:

'UPDATE REGARDING PRE ACTION LETTER SENT TO NORTHUMBRIA POLICE YESTERDAY OVER 2025 PRIDE PARTICIPATION

“ This morning my solicitors received confirmation from the legal team at Northumbria Police that – ‘Officers and staff of Northumbria Police will not be permitted to participate in the Northern Pride march wearing uniform or such other apparel as identifies them as a police officer or police staff member. This is reflected in the updated Gold Strategy document. Participation will remain entirely voluntary.’

They also confirmed that the rainbow police car will be decommissioned.

This is a significant and encouraging sign that Northumbria Police are now fulfilling their legal responsibility of acting impartially. By abandoning their previous commitment to a controversial political cause they will be able to police the local community for everyone. Northern Pride, like so many events, demonstrations and protests up and down the country is controversial.

The impartiality of the police is vital in ensuring these events can take place in a way that does not restrict free speech. My hope is that my case will have brought the Northumbria Police and other forces back to their core responsibility of policing without fear or favour. “

THIS IS HUGE, and a massive win for everyone. '

https://x.com/RightNUFC/status/1946111602899468423

This is huge!

Great work, Linzi!

Excellent!! 👏

Well done Linzi, you've played a blinder.

Fucking oath! Well done Linzi!!

Amazing! Go Linzi and Fair Cop!

Now to have every single police force in the UK abide by this and any who don't, taken to court.

Fantastic. Well done Linzi and Fair Cop.

Now for the rest of them.

Article in the Telegraph this evening:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/1288f825f6c6a9ae

Fantastic!

Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine ordered the removal of all diversity-based symbols

They weren't diversity based though, that's that point.