A POLICE Community Support Officer from North Wales has been presented with the Julie Barnes-Frank award at the National LGBT+ Police Conference held in Nottinghamshire.
Over 150 people attended the National LGBT+ Police Conference held in the East Midlands on 28th July. It was the first time the conference took place since the Covid-19 pandemic and had a fantastic turnout.
Police officers and staff from almost every UK Police force came together to support their LGBT+ colleagues and communities. The aim of the conference is to inspire both members of the LGBT+ community and allies, as well as generate reflection and promote best practices in policing.
The conference included several guest speakers including sister Maria Renate from Merseyside Police, who was born an intersex woman, former RAF Fighter Pilot Matt Lindley, one of the first openly gay pilots in the armed forces, and conference compere and radio DJ Stephanie Hirst, who spoke about her experience as being transgender.
The event also included the presentation of the Julie Barnes-Frank Award; a prestigious award that the National LGBT+ Police Network have been presenting to LGBT+ officers who have embodied positive values since 2015.
Julie was awarded the first Alan Turing Memorial Award for her work to tackle homophobia and was nominated for the Hero of the Year Stonewall Award in 2007. She sadly passed away in 2017 following a battle with cancer.
During the conference, the Julie Barnes-Frank Award for Excellence in LGBT+ Policing was presented to this year’s winner PCSO Connor Freel from North Wales Police who works in the Flintshire South area for his contributions to LGBT+ Policing and his valued efforts towards trans inclusion in UK Policing.
As well as his PCSO role, Connor volunteers as an LGBT+ Staff Support Liaison and has been instrumental in supporting the LGBT+ community both inside and outside the of Police.
As a transgender officer, Connor spends much of his spare time working with the community to stand up for those that are prejudiced and discriminated against. Since joining North Wales Police in 2015 he has worked hard to address these issues by supporting the training & development of Police officers and staff in relation to equality and specifically transgender issues, working collaboratively on training content for officers about dealing with transgender victims of crime and lecturing at Wrexham Glyndwr University about equality, diversity and inclusion and societal attitudes.
Connor said “Julie Barnes-Frank walked, or more importantly marched, so that people like us could run.
All I can say is that this is an absolute honour and a privilege to be receiving this award in her name. I’m so incredibly grateful to our All-Wales Network for their experience and expertise about evolving our organisation’s practices for the good of the members; the North Wales Network for inviting me in and providing me with the support to run with my ideas no matter how big or small they are.
I’d also like to say thank you to Julie Brierley; my supervisor in my LGBT+ voluntary role as well as the Chair of our Network. She has been so supportive and inspirational through her passion and professionalism that she has become someone I truly aspire to become more like.
I’ve been passionate about fighting for and speaking up for LGBT+ communities during my 8 years’ service not only because I am part of the community but also because I recognise my ‘passing privilege’ now but I also remember a time when I didn’t have that privilege so I will continue to try to use mine to be a voice for those that don’t and to hold our organisations accountable.
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"I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be a part of something so wonderful.”
Head of Learning & Development in North Wales Police and Co-Chair of the Wales LGBT+ Police Network Julie Brierley said “I am delighted that Connor has received the Julie Barnes-Frank award for the fantastic work he has done for the NWP LGBT+ staff support network and the communities across North Wales.
DCC Paul Gibson said: “It was an absolute honour to host this year’s LGBT+ National Conference in the East Midlands.
“Delegates heard from some really inspirational speakers who all shared their experiences, advice, and learning, and were able to enjoy some time networking with colleagues and friends.
“We are very fortunate to have such passionate people advocating change within our forces.”
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