Uniformed police will not be able to show support for Pride events in York and North Yorkshire from now on.
They will not be able to alter their uniform or vehicles with rainbow flags or banners or be seen in any way to endorse the LGBTQ+ events, the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police has said.
It follows a ruling by the High Court last week that found that Northumbria Police acted unlawfully by allowing its officers to take part in a Pride event last year.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Linden said the participation of officers went against impartiality rules.
In response North Yorkshire Chief Constable Tim Forber said: “It is absolutely essential that the police act impartially at all times and are seen to do so by all the communities we serve.
“Participating in protest activity, or parades that support any ‘cause’ can quite rightly undermine the public’s confidence in that impartiality, especially where there are a range of legitimate views about any particular issue.
“Ahead of any court ruling there was already a visible change in the policing presence at Pride events in North Yorkshire as demonstrated at York Pride in June 2025.
“I am absolutely clear that the only North Yorkshire Police officers on duty and in uniform at such events will be those actively engaged in policing the event.”
This is a major change to previous years, when police wearing face paint and rainbow flags have been a colourful part of York Pride.
Mr Forber added: “Any North Yorkshire Police officer who wishes to ‘participate’ in a parade or lawful protest may do so, but they must be off duty and are not permitted to wear their uniform.
“I do not allow the altering of police uniform or the changing of the livery of police vehicles to show support for any cause.”
In his ruling against Northumbria Police, High Court judge Mr Justice Linden said: “It is not hard to imagine circumstances in which the officers in question might be called on to deal with a clash between gender critical people and supporters of gender ideology, and therefore situations where the former had cause for concern as to whether they were being dealt with impartially.”
YorkMix has contacted York Pride to ask for their response.