THE Scottish Tories have called for police to be banned from Pride marches while on duty following a High Court ruling.
The court ruled on Wednesday that one of the UK’s largest forces breached impartiality by marching at an LGBT+ event.
A judicial review was brought by a gender-critical campaigner who argued that Northumbria Police broke the professional oath sworn by police officers to act "with impartiality".
Officers had a stall at last year’s Pride parade in Newcastle, marched under the Progress flag promoting transgender ideology and painted a police van in trans colours, while Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine was pictured at the event.
Now the Scottish Tories have called on Police Scotland to ban staff participation in Pride events.
Scottish Tory community safety spokesperson Sharon Dowey said: ‘The public expect the primary role of police officers to be fighting crime and upholding community safety, so this ruling is a potential landmark moment.
"At a time of low officer numbers and savage cuts to the police budgets on the SNP’s watch, attending parades is not what Scots expect to be a priority.
"It is common sense that public safety should always be the top priority for the force."
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, has also backed the court ruling and appeared to compare Pride events with Orange Order marches in his comments.
He said: ‘The problem is where do you draw the line? If an officer is a member of the Orange Order and wants to take part in an Orange walk while in police uniform, for example, would you allow that – how would that go down?
‘Police have to do their job in an apolitical way – without fear or favour.
‘The lines had become blurred but this judgment clarifies the situation."
Kennedy said he believed officers in civilian clothes on their time off should be allowed to participate, for example by carrying flags or banners, but they should not wear uniform.
A Pride march is set to take place in Glasgow on Saturday.
In his ruling at the High Court in Leeds, Mr Justice Linden said Northumbria Police might be seen by the public to be "taking sides" in the women’s rights debate.
It is understood Police Scotland is reviewing the High Court judgment.
