Statement by TUV Bannside Councillor Timothy Gaston:
“I welcome the decision by the PSNI to not permit officers in uniform to take part in this year’s parade. ACC Singleton is correct to point out that this is necessary in order to recognise their fairness, integrity and impartiality obligations.
“TUV alone has been clear in pervious years that the PSNI had no business taking part in Belfast Pride for exactly those reasons. We therefore welcome that the penny has, finally, dropped with the PSNI top brass.
“This is a highly politicised event with the demand for a changes in the law in relation to self identification when it comes to biological males demanding access to female only spaces front and centre of this year’s parade. The PSNI should not joining in such a political campaign.
“Doubtless there will be those who will attack this decision but if, as some claim, it is about showing solidarity against hate crime – which, of course, is wrong who ever is the target – then, why the selectivity? There is no community that has experienced more hate crime than the Orange community, with hundreds of arson and criminal damage attacks on their halls, but no one is suggesting that the PSNI should show opposition to these hate crimes by participating in Orange parades.
“This is a parade with a history of causing gratuitous offence to Christians with its infamous and blasphemous poster “Jesus is a fag” and similar incidents.
“The fact that the parade is divisive and controversial is signified by the fact that it is marked as “sensitive” on the Parades Commission website. Notice of a protest has also been lodged. Therefore, there should never have been any question of the PSNI taking part. When TUV challenged them on how they proposed to fairly police such protests when they had officers in uniform in the parade the response was literally silence.
“Today’s decision is a welcome return to the PSNI treating this controversial parade the way they should always have treated it.”