Police diversity guide derided for ‘political correctness’

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A new booklet outlining police commitment to diversity has been criticised by Scottish MP Bill Aitken as created for those “living in a politically correct bubble”.

Aitken, justice spokesman for the Conservative Party, claimed that “99.99 per cent of people could not give a damn about this sort of thing”, the Daily Express reports.

The booklet has been put together by The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) in order to respectfully recognise Scotland’s diverse populace.

It states that officers should take care when addressing LGBT people, suggesting that ‘homosexual’ should not be used as it is a term “which some LGB people find offensive”.

Trans issues are also mentioned, with advice given on how to search trans people.

Further advice states: “A transgender person is not breaking the law by using the opposite gender toilet facilities from the gender they were labelled at birth”.

Ian Latimer, chair of ACPOS’ Equality and Diversity committee, said: “Scotland’s communities have changed significantly, and continue to change. It is important to provide guidance and support to staff and ensure that they can more effectively meet the needs of our diverse communities”

The guide, of which 7,000 copies have been printed, has also been sent out to the British Transport Police and prosecutors.

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