Brighton Police are to meet with the organisers of Pride to discuss what impact the weekend’s tragic events in Orlando could have on security at the parade – but have urged people to stay calm but vigilant.
Last night, about 400 people attended an impromptu vigil at the New Steine, where speeches were made by civic leaders and people lit candles, lay flowers and stood in solidarity to remember the 49 people killed at a gay nightclub by a lone shooter.
This morning, Brighton and Hove commander Chief Superintendent Nev Kemp said the force was considering what impact the hate attack could have in the city, home to one of the UK’s largest LGBT communities.
Ch Supt Kemp, who is also Sussex Police’s LGBT champion and Proud Ally, said: “The tragic events in Orlando should concern all of us. A crime as heinous and cruel as the homophobic attack committed in the Pulse Nightclub this weekend is distressing to anyone with any compassion for the welfare and lives of the innocent people affected by this mass murder.
“Such a terrible event rightly gives us cause to stop, think and examine our own environment. I, like many of my colleagues in Sussex Police, in common with the people living in Brighton and Hove are proud and value greatly, the large, vibrant and diverse LGBT community, who play a huge part in making the city the wonderful place that it is to live, visit and enjoy. We will be flying the rainbow flag from John Street police station at half-mast.
“When reflecting on the terrible events in America, it is natural and healthy to consider what it means for us here. We know that whilst it is not impossible to get hold of a firearm in the UK, it is far more difficult to do so than in the US and far more difficult still, to get hold of the kind of deadly assault weapon that was used in the Pulse Nightclub attack.
“We have well developed and rehearsed counter terrorism plans but also work relentlessly on prevention, part of which involves continuously developing intelligence and acting on it.
“We know, too, that we will not tolerate hate crime, even if it seems relatively minor and we will continue to work closely with our partners in the City Council and LGBT Community Safety Forum, event organisers and licensed premises to try to prevent it, but to encourage reporting and tackle it when does occur.
“The threat level in the UK from international terrorism remains unchanged at ‘severe’ and we will be meeting with the organisers of Pride to consider what if any impact the events in Orlando might have on this event, because we are not complacent and our priority and that of our partners working on the event is and will remain the safety of the public.
“But should we be worried? No. We should not pretend that what happened is anything other than a truly terrible event and we are not immune here from the apparent circumstances that led to it being committed, but it is important to keep it in perspective and to show those filled with hate that we will do everything we can to stamp it out, that we will be vigilant but that we will also not be cowed and will continue to live our lives and enjoy our freedom and do so with pride.”
Last year, the Pride parade was stopped after a suspicious package was found – but further investigations found that it was a pinhole camera which had been attached to street furniture several weeks beforehand.
Yesterday, Pride announced it would be holding an act of remembrance on the main stage during Saturday, August 6.
Director of Pride Paul Kemp said: “Our hearts go out to all the families and friends of those who lost their lives and all those affected by the attack in Orlando. It was a senseless hate crime by a lone radical perpetrator on an LGBT venue that should have been a safe space.
“This horrific event shows that despite how far we have come, there is still much to do within our own communities as well as across the globe.
“Pride celebrates diversity and tolerance within all our communities and this tragedy should not divide us, but bring us together to stand side by side in unity against all hate crime.
“Our campaign them for 2016 Uniting Nations will highlight the plight of LGBT groups across the globe and has collected images and testimony from Prides on every continent to produce a colourful and diverse representation of our global community.
“It is only by building bridges and standing shoulder to shoulder with groups around the world that we can tackle homophobic and discrimination in all its forms by promoting respect and equality for all.”
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