British Court Rules Police Cannot Wear Uniforms at Pride Events

A UK High Court ruling found that Northumbria Police breached their duty of impartiality by participating in a Pride event in uniform, particularly given the contested nature of gender identity issues. The court concluded that police involvement in such events creates an impression of partiality, which conflicts with their oath to remain neutral and act without favour. Following the ruling, Northumbria Police announced that only off-duty officers may participate in Pride marches, but they must not wear uniforms or identifiable police items. The judgment has sparked calls from Scottish Tories and rank-and-file officers to ban on-duty police participation in Pride events in Scotland, emphasizing the need to prioritize public safety over political activism. Critics argue that while police engagement with communities is important, marching in uniform at politically charged events undermines perceived neutrality and risks politicizing the police service. This ruling is viewed by some as a potential end to what has been called 'woke policing,' reinforcing that police should focus on law enforcement rather than activism.