Police chief celebrates transsexualsNorth Yorkshire force once criticised for discrimination endorses ’diversity’ Martin Wainwright The chief constable of a force criticised five years ago for repeated sexual discrimination appeared at a press conference yesterday to celebrate the presence of two “good, effective - and transsexual” officers in its ranks. David Kenworthy, head of North Yorkshire police, whose predecessor David Burke was facing disciplinary action over discrimination when he retired in 1996, sat alongside Sergeant Nicola - formerly Chris - Lamb at the pioneering get-together. In the first public endorsement of a transsexual officer by a British police force, Mr Kenworthy said: “We want to be quite open about my and the force’s attitude to transsexual officers. We celebrate diversity. Today is about talented people who have gone through change and yet are still giving fantastic service to North Yorkshire police.” The chief constable was supported by David Stockport of the Police Federation, which was described by Mr Kenworthy as “four square behind us in changing attitudes and making this a force where we celebrate diversity - where we are happy to employ people who will be good police officers or civilian support staff.” Sergeant Lamb, 49, smiled throughout the meeting with reporters. It has been agreed she will wear civilian clothes for a month before reverting to uniform. She declined to answer questions, but the force’s diversity officer, Kathy Anderson, said that Sergeant Lamb had the medical condition gender dysphoria that affects one in 10,000 British men. The other transsexual in the force is on training and could not be present. Ms Anderson said that Essex police employed two transsexual staff. The press conference was called after concern that journalists might harass the four officers, following an industrial tribunal last week in Leeds, brought against West Yorkshire police by a transsexual who claimed she was refused a job because of sexual discrimination. Mr Kenworthy said that it was a sensitive and poignant time for Sergeant Lamb because she was “actually making the transition at the moment”; it is understood senior officers were worried that she might be followed and covertly photographed. North Yorkshire lost three sex discrimination cases brought by women officers in the last years of Mr Burke’s administration, including one which led to compensation of more than £100,000. Senior officers were also accused of failing to investigate women officers’ complaints. “I don’t think you need me to remind you that this force suffered enormous criticism,” said Mr Kenworthy. “In view of the press interest in the tribunal, we thought it would be prudent to deal with this openly.” Copyright © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2001 |