Blackpool police to join Blackpool Pride parade
9:48pm Friday 16th May 2008
Members of Lancashire police will be joining an estimated 10,000 people for this year's Blackpool Pride Parade and Carnival.
Police officers and staff will be taking part in the third Blackpool Pride event on tomorrow which ties in with the International Day against Homophobia.
Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people will be promoting diversity and the contribution they make to the wider community.
Old Bill, the police Morris Minor car, will lead officers and staff who will be carrying a banner advertising Western Division LGBT Neighbourhood Policing Team.
They'll also be promoting how the police and communities are working together to tackle homophobia.
The parade leaves St Chad's headland at noon and makes its way along Blackpool Promenade to North Pier, where the rest of the weekend's activities are taking place.
After the parade Lancashire Constabulary will be having a stall on the Pier all day with recruitment staff and members of the LGBT Policing Team.
A team of officers will also be visiting all the LGBT venues at regular intervals throughout the weekend.
PC Lindsey Nottingham said: "Despite a number of recent legal changes in the UK leading to greater equality, unfortunately attitudes are slower to change.
"Many LGBT people in this country still face abuse, and sometimes even violence, purely on the grounds of their sexual orientation.
"The pride parades create a focus through which the LGBT community can project their courage, solidarity, pride and diversity and the contribution they make to the wider community.
"By participating in the parade, it is hoped members of the LGBT community will be more confident in reporting crimes to LancashireConstabulary as well as recognising the Constabulary as an employer of choice."
- Are you attending the Blackpool Pride? Click the link below to email us your pictures and video footage. Mobile pictures should start with BLPRIDE before adding the number 80360.