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# South Wales police receive backlash after officers given LGBTQ+ epaulettes
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/south-wales-police-receive-backlash-after-officers-given-lgbtq-epaulettes/
- Published: 2020-11-23T12:12:30.000Z
- Updated: 2020-11-23T11:42:44.000Z
- Description: The LGBTQ+ staff network for the South Wales police force has created LGBTQ+ epaulettes – decorated with either the trans, bisexual or rainbow flag – in honour of Trans Awareness Week, but recieved backlash on social media.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Community, Information, News, LGBTQ, Trans Awareness Week, UK News, Wales

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/sw-police-lgbt-patches-1.jpg)

The LGBTQ+ staff network for the **South Wales** police force has created LGBTQ+ epaulettes – decorated with either the trans, bisexual or rainbow flag – in honour of **Trans Awareness Week**, but recieved backlash on social media. SWP LGBTQ+ official[ tweeted](https://twitter.com/swplgbt/status/1327182261746360320?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“Finally, we are giving our officers and staff the ability to show their support by wearing trans epaulettes and LGBTQ+ patches on their uniforms.”* The majority of comments on the tweet were unsupportive of the move.

One user wrote: *“I miss when the police used to be normal. All of this political nonsense should have no place in the police force.”* [Another ](https://twitter.com/AlanMas96895371/status/1329359902230327301?ref=scenemag.co.uk)referred to the epaulettes as *“a waste of money”.* Former head of counter terrorism at the City of London police, **Kevin Hurley**, wrote an opinion [piece ](https://www.rt.com/op-ed/507340-uk-police-lgbt-rainbow-epaulettes/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)for RT News, accusing the South Wales police of ‘virtue signalling’. He argued it shows favour to particular groups, saying: *“It is concerning that the officer himself or herself feels it is appropriate for them to make a visible demonstration of their view or leanings as they go about their job.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/sw-police-trans-awareness-week-1.jpg)

Nevertheless, he insisted he supported the LGBTQ+ community: *“I lent my support for freedom of choice and lifestyle by* [*attending*](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/pcc-praises-sussex-police-and-pride-organisers/) *the 2014 Brighton Pride march, riding at the front of an open-topped rainbow bus”*, but suggested acts of solidarity should be left out of the everyday workplace. South Wales LGBTQ+ staff network have not responded to the backlash.