Mark Latham questions special police training for NSW World Pride event

A NSW MP has questioned plans to train hundreds of police to become gay liaison officers.

Plans by NSW Police to train 315 officers to become special Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers for a huge World Pride event next year are “disproportionate” according to One Nation MP Mark Latham, who says police should instead consider special training for dealing with housing estate and elderly residents.

The NSW government has already sent 255 generalist officers to the special LGBTIQA+ training to become Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLO) and plan to train up to 100 more this year.

Police officers take part in the 2020 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

The officers do the same core policing duties like other police officers but also “engage positively and support members of the LGBTIQA+ communities in NSW”.

Their training will include information about the “history of the relationship between police and LBTIQ communities, challenges and sensitivities”.

NSW police take part in a Sydney Mardi Gras parade. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Another aspect of their role will be “to champion LGBTIQ inclusion at work and provide support to LGBTIQ staff”.

“It’s identity politics in policing,” Mr Latham said.

Under questioning in parliament by Mr Latham, Police Minister Paul Toole said he aimed to have “at least 315 complete the training in preparation for Sydney World Pride 2023”.

One Nation NSW Leader Mark Latham. Picture: Christian Gilles

He said NSW Police already had 108 domestic violence officers, 58 Aboriginal community officers, 26 multicultural officers and 12 aged crime prevention officers.

Mr Toole told The Daily Telegraph it was “important to ensure the numbers of appropriately trained liaison officers across a range of areas are proportionate to community demand and the policing challenges our officers face.”

Mr Latham said the numbers were “out of balance” and 12 for the elderly was inadequate.

“Three hundred and fifteen officers trained for LGBTIQ due for the Sydney World Pride next year, but only 12 for elderly and disabled people?” Mr Latham said.

“It’s almost 25 times more LGBTIQ officers than for the elderly and the disabled, then nothing for welfare recipients, public housing estates, remote and geographically remote people.

It seems that the gay and lesbian community are afforded extra special attention.

“I imagine domestic violence is a much bigger issue than public safety during the Sydney World Pride Festival next year.”

He said many LGBTIQ communities were concentrated in the inner city, not regional NSW, and featured high levels of employment and education, as well as strong political and media representation.

“I find it extraordinary they need higher levels of policing, when other groups would have far more pressing needs and higher levels of disadvantage.”

Originally published as Mark Latham questions special police training for NSW World Pride event