Police stations in and around Wirral fly rainbow flags against homophobia

May 20 2009 by Lyndsay Young, Birkenhead News

POLICE stations in Wirral are each flying a “rainbow” flag in the fight against homophobia.

All police stations across Merseyside are flying the flags this week in support of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

It is part of its commitment to tackling hate crime and this was a visible show of support for the day, which was officially recognised on Sunday.

As well as raising a flag, the Merseyside Police headquarters building was also lit up with lights in rainbow colours, to symbolise gay and lesbian pride.

The aim was to send out a message that homophobia will not be tolerated.

Merseyside Police has been joined in action this year by partners from the Police Authority, Victim Support, Armistead, Homotopia, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Altcourse prison.

Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe was joined by Tracy O’Hara, chairman of Gay and Lesbian Support Network and detectives from the police Hate Crime units in raising the flags.