Earlier this year, Police Scotland told a Scottish parliament committee that its policy of allowing men charged with rape to be recorded as women reflects the ‘values of respect, integrity, fairness and human rights’ and promotes a ‘strong sense of belonging.’
Writing for the Daily Mail, Dr Kath Murray argues that: “the launch of the single force in 2013 radically changed Scottish policing – but not always for the better.”
“Although Police Scotland has repeatedly said that it is awaiting direction and guidance on its recording policy from the Scottish Government, John Swinney insisted that he couldn’t interfere in ‘operational’ police matters.
“On social media, the policy was described as ‘grotesque’ – whilst in parliament, politicians expressed their revulsion.
“For an organisation that deals with sex-based offending and victimisation on a daily basis, the inability of Police Scotland to see the problem here, and to grasp the huge reputational risks, is hard to understand.
“Police Scotland’s blinkered adherence to a deeply unpopular political agenda that has so far contributed to the resignations of two First Ministers suggests that the single service has no grip on issues around gender identity, is too reliant on activist groups for guidance, and/or is being very badly advised.
“With more than £500,000 spent annually on diversity staff, something has gone very wrong here.”
Murray argues that: “The creation of a nationalised police force threw an unprecedented media spotlight on Scottish policing – with a string of high-profile controversies playing out in public.Against a backdrop of criticism and pressure, Scotland’s first Chief Constable Sir Stephen House resigned in 2015.
“Back in 2017, then Acting Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone called for less political interference and admitted that the single service had been unprepared for the intense scrutiny.
“Over time, Police Scotland became more cautious and-risk averse.
“In a departure from the enforcement approach rolled out under Sir Stephen, it worked to present itself as inclusive and community-orientated.
“As part of this drive, in 2015 Police Scotland made its first application to the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index (WEI).
“The following year, it ranked 83 in the Stonewall’s Top 100 UK employers and was awarded ‘Most Improved Employer’.
“In 2017, Police Scotland was ranked 20th in the UK.
“Police Scotland has since left the WEI, but the imprint of trans activist organisations is still writ large on the organisation – and it’s starting to wreak the same sort of reputational damage that marked the early days of Police Scotland.
“Like countless other public bodies, Police Scotland uncritically bought into policies based on unregulated gender self-identification, or as gay and trans rights group Stonewall puts it, ‘acceptance without exception’.
After detailing how support for gender ideology, and “the controversial Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill split the tightly-disciplined SNP group,” Murray reflects on how the Scottish police service can win back trust.
“Police Scotland needs to distance itself from identity politics and activist organisations, start taking women’s concerns seriously – and scrap its obviously flawed and damaging policies.”
Worth reading in full.
