South Wales Police is flying the rainbow flag above some of their buildings in February in support of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender History month.
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) History Month takes place every year in February and celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT communities.
The Rainbow Flag will be flown in each of the divisions across the force, as a sign of South Wales Police’s commitment to supporting the rights of every individual and supporting our LGBT communities.
Rainbow stickers will also be displayed on the front doors or front windows of stations across the force.
The South Wales Police Gay Staff Network (GSN) in partnership with the Equality and Diversity Unit are also hosting a number of All Wales events, for all staff and community partners, to mark LGBT History Month.
The aim is for people of South Wales to live and work in an environment that is open and welcoming, and free from discrimination.
Communities and Partnerships Supt Liane Bartlett said:
“The flags and stickers are a sign of our commitment to supporting the rights of every individual and our commitment to supporting our LGBT communities.
“Our force’s aim is for the people of South Wales to live in an environment that is open and welcoming, and free from discrimination.
“The flags and stickers symbolise our pledge to our communities that we will tackle all crime, including any homophobic hate crime and would encourage residents to report any issues to us.
“South Wales Police has specialist staff in its Minorities Support Unit to deal with this type of crime and has dedicated Hate Crime Police Officers in Cardiff, Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan and Neath and Port Talbot divisions who provide ongoing support to victims.
“Alongside the Assembly and other Welsh forces we have worked in partnership with charity Safer Wales to develop and launch a confidential hate crime self-reporting initiative online at www.saferwales.com, where members of the public can report hate crime confidentially and anonymously.
“We also provide advice and support on a wide range of matters that may affect or impact on our minority communities.
“We are proud to fly the Rainbow flag, with its rainbow motif which is a sign of diversity, as part of our commitment to all our diverse communities.”
The flags will be flying at the South Wales Police stations throughout the whole of February.
South Wales Police is signed up to the Stonewall Diversity Champions scheme and are working with Stonewall to become a better employer for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.
The scheme is a good practice forum in which employers can work with Stonewall Cymru and each other to promote lesbian, gay and bisexual equality in the workplace.
Stonewall Cymru aims to achieve legal equality and social justice for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Wales.