'Police have failed LGBTQ+ victims for years', says Pride

Warwickshire Pride has submitted a major complaint to Warwickshire Police, alleging years of failures in the force's handling of hate crimes and incidents affecting LGBTQ+ people.

The complaint brings together around 50 cases reported by Pride members and the wider LGBTQ+ community, including homophobic and transphobic abuse, threats to kill, sexual harassment and criminal damage.

Chair Daniel Browne called for "an apology and a genuine commitment to change, followed by action".

Warwickshire Police said "hate crime and discrimination have no place in our county" and added the complaint would be "considered through the appropriate process".

The complaint specifically references incidents between 2013 and 2026, although the organisation said it had been hearing concerns since it was founded in 2011.

Browne said claims include reports not being properly investigated and victims and witnesses not being listened to.

One of the incidents included in the complaint took place in spring 2025 involving a transgender person who experienced transphobic abuse at Newbold Comyn in Leamington before fireworks were allegedly aimed and fired at her.

Browne said the incident was reported and a PCSO attended the scene. The officer was said to have seen the suspects while wearing a body camera. However Browne claims the investigation was later dropped due to an apparent lack of evidence and an inability to identify those responsible.

He added: "It caused significant distress for this individual and now they would not report anything to the police ever again, which is really unfortunate because incidents do need to be reported, even if they are not dealt with properly by the police."

Warwickshire Police urged anyone who experiences or witnesses hate crime to report it.

Communities and Prevention Superintendent, Steve Flavell said: "We understand the importance of trust and confidence in policing, particularly for communities who may have experienced prejudice, discrimination or hate crime.

"We want to reassure all communities across Warwickshire, that hate crime and discrimination have no place in our county.

"Anyone who comes forward to Warwickshire Police can expect to be listened to and treated with dignity, respect and compassion."

Another case cited in the complaint relates to an incident on 22 May 2026 during a protest outside Warwickshire County Council over Reform UK proposals to decommission the council's independent quality service.

Browne said two members of Warwickshire Pride were subjected to a homophobic comment and intimidation during the protest.

The incident was reported to police, but Browne claims there were significant failings in the investigation, including lengthy delays in updating the victim and a failure to interview the suspect.

He said: "It is an absolute disgrace, and it cannot be allowed to continue.

"These are real people, real victims and real experiences of failures by Warwickshire Police.

"Warwickshire Pride has always been, and remains, open to dialogue with the police. "We have attempted to address this informally many times over the years and got nowhere. This now has to be taken seriously by the force."

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