Staffordshire Police join revellers for Stoke-on-Trent Pride

Officers from Staffordshire Police have joined revellers at this year’s Pride event in Stoke-on-Trent.

The event, which had previously been cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic, saw hundreds of people from across the city attend Hanley Park on Saturday 7 August to celebrate diversity and have fun, after almost 18 months of social gathering restrictions.

Part of the festival saw officers host a stall at the event, in their own time, to be on hand to let attendees know about the force’s ongoing recruitment drive for special constables.

It also gave officers the chance to engage with the community – offering support, advice and further information on how to get involved with the force’s active LGBTQ network.

Dave Fynn, equality, diversity and inclusion co-ordinator for Staffordshire Police, said: “This has been such a positive event for Stoke-on-Trent after a difficult 18 months living with coronavirus restrictions.

“It was great to see so many people come out to celebrate and recognise the diversity of the city, making new friends and finding out more about what to do to support the LGBTQ community in the city.

“The officers who attended did so in their own time - as they knew they would have a fantastic time engaging with the community and letting them know about the work the force’s LGBTQ network does to support staff.

“It was a really positive day and I’m so pleased we were able to ‘take Pride’ in Stoke-on-Trent this year.”

Supt Mark Ward, lead for community engagement at Staffordshire Police, said: “I was thrilled to be able to attend this year’s Pride and was pleased to see that people were able to have a good time in Hanley Park after such a challenging time for our communities.

“I hope that we were able to encourage people to consider a career as a special constable and to find out more about how they will be supported in the force as part of our network.

“I look forward to seeing officers out and about more and more at these brilliant community events as we continue on the government’s road map out of the coronavirus pandemic.”

To find out more about the force’s support networks, visit: https://careers.staffordshire.police.uk/an-inclusive-organisation/

If you are interested in becoming a special constable, visit: https://careers.staffordshire.police.uk/special-constable/