A UK police force has banned its officers from wearing glitter and face paint at Pride events.
The crackdown on police joining in at the LGBT+ celebration event comes just days after Home Secretary Suella Braverman said officers were not paid to “dance with drag queens”.
Ms Braverman has regularly hit out at ‘woke culture’ in the police force.
Rachel Cook, chief executive of the Office of the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, confirmed the move at a recent meeting of North Lincolnshire Council.
Ms Cook told Councillor John Davison: “I think we’re in a very neutral territory.
Earlier this month, Ms Braverman ordered a review into “political activism in police”.
She had ordered His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to probe what she describes as an “unacceptable rise in police partisanship”.
The Home Secretary highlighted images of officers taking the knee in honour of the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as wearing badges in support of ‘social justice’ causes.
In the Commons this week, Ms Braverman said police officers should not be “playing politics”.
The Home Secretary said cops should not be waving flags at parades, dancing with drag queens or campaigning
Instead, Ms Braverman urged chief constables and elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to focus on “cutting crime and rebuilding confidence”.
She had responded to a question from Tory MP Nick Fletcher, who called for more police on the beat rather than “promoting unscientific ideologies”.
North Hull MP Dame Diana Johnson criticised the focus on police in Pride events, saying “it’s not as if our police officers are prancing around covered in glitter every day”.
However, the Labour MP said it was ultimately “an operational matter for chief constables” to consider.
Deputy Chief Constable Dave Marshall said the force area “is made up of many communities,” adding officers are “really proud to be representative of the diverse communities we police”.
He added: “Our work with diverse community groups enables us to create a police service that is accessible for everyone.”
Andy Train, a prominent member of Hull’s LGBT+ community, said officers needed to maintain professionalism.
But, he added: “We do want them involved. We’ll take them as far as they want to go.”
In August, Sir Mark Rowley, Britain’s most senior policeman, said his officers would not be allowed to express support for “woke” causes while on duty.
