Greater Manchester Police have been showing their support and colours ahead of this weekends Pride celebration across Greater Manchester.
As GMP prepares to take to the streets to march with pride as part of this year’s Manchester Pride parade on Saturday 24 August, we’ve been taking a look back at GMP’s participation in previous pride parades.
The Pride Festival, which takes place over four days in Manchester city centre every August Bank Holiday (23 – 26 August), sees thousands take to the streets as part of the pride parade, with this year’s theme being ‘Deep Space Pride: A Future World of Equality’.
GMP have been participating in the parade from as early as 2003 and this year we expect around 150-200 officers marching, along with the ‘Bobby’ bee mascot and the new GMP rainbow car.
Chief Superintendent Wasim Chaudhry said: “Once again we are getting ready to join in with this year’s Manchester Pride Festival celebrations and are looking forward to welcoming visitors into our fantastic city.
“Each year, Manchester Pride brings our communities together to celebrate the diversity and tolerance for which Greater Manchester is renowned.
“Events such as this are a fantastic opportunity for our officers to engage with the people of Greater Manchester and demonstrate our commitment to supporting those in the LGBTQ community.
“Having a presence at events like this shows the LGBT community and any other possible victims of hate crime that the police are inclusive, we understand and we are there for them.”
To celebrate the upcoming Manchester Pride festival this weekend, we have been posting different images each day from the archives on GMP social media channels, featuring police participation in the Manchester Pride Parade dating back to 2003.
Heading to #ManchesterPride this bank holiday weekend? ?️?
Have a great time and remember to look out for each other. If you spot anything suspicious don’t ignore it, report it to event staff, stewards or police. #ActionCountersTerrorism pic.twitter.com/RV3mMK9kvo
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) August 23, 2019
The rainbow flag was raised at GMP Force HQ on Friday 23 August with Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor, Carl Austin-Behan, former Lord Mayor of Manchester, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins and Inspector Jacqui Prest, Chair of GMP Pride Network. Also GMP has given the crest a rainbow makeover to join in the celebrations and to show our support.
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