CHESHIRE Police and Crime Panel chairman Bob Fousert will not resign over remarks he made about a senior police office wearing a rainbow lanyard.
He said his remarks were not and were never intended to be an attack on the LGBT community which, he said, had laudably sought to bring about world-wide change within society, which was to be welcomed.
Mr Fousert also revealed that he has lesbian and homosexual relatives within his own family.
He was responding to a call from Warrington-based police and crime commissioner David Keane for him to resign because of his “outdated and inappropriate views which should not be seen to be the views of the panel.”
In an open letter to Mr Keane, Mr Fousert said the main reason for him raising the issue of deputy chief constable Julie Cooke wearing an LGBT+ally lanyard was of “impartiality.”
He pointed out that Cheshire Police had recently become the first police force in the country to be found guilty and ordered to pay compensation because of discrimination in its recruitment process, when it failed to recruit a white, heterosexual male in favour of a candidate from a black minority ethnic background.
It was in this context that he raised the issue of impartiality as he felt the deputy chief constable wearing an LGBT ally lanyard might be viewed in a similar vein – giving the appearance of favouring one section of society over another.
But at no time did he seek to have disciplinary action against DCC Cooke as had been claimed by Mr Keane.
David Keane
“This was not and never was intended to be an attack upon the LGBT community and I am sorry that it has been made to seem that way,” he said.
He accused Mr Keane of attempting to make his remarks seem like such an attack by linking it to his view that LGBT issues were, or could be seen to be, political.
Mr Fousert said the commissioner had stated he would be attending and speaking at forthcoming “Gay Pride” rallies in Chester and Crewe in the near future.
“I would suggest that your attendance to speak at these rallies will be viewed by some as a political act.
“This year is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which gave rise to the LGBT movement that resulted from the outrageous behaviour of police officers towards the homosexual community in New York. Since then the movement has, laudably, sought to bring about world-wide change within society, which is to be welcomed.
“However, I believe that it should not and must never be allowed to create a situation or perception where police impartiality, the bedrock of policing, is being eroded by being seen to favouring one section of the community over another.
“It is unfortunate, even sad, that when someone makes an observation or comment with regards to LGBT issues they are often treated by some sections of the community like heretics, to be vilified, pilloried and castigated.
“If, as you suggest, my question may have brought the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel into disrepute, then this would be an unintended consequence and I unreservedly apologise to those members for whom I have a great respect.
“With regards to my resigning, I have no intention of doing so just because I have asked what you consider to be a contentious question, the first that has provoked such a reaction in my seven years on the panel. Therefore, I will continue to carry out my responsibilities as an independent, co-opted panel member in robustly challenging and questioning you for the remainder of your tenure as the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire.”
