Scots officers urged to come out

Chief Inspector David Lyle believes more victims would come forward

A senior policeman in Scotland is urging gay officers to openly admit their sexuality.

Lothian and Borders Chief Inspector David Lyle claims 10% of the force is gay and believes it would raise the self-esteem of gay officers.

The Scottish coordinator of the Gay Police Association (GPA) believes it would also encourage victims of homophobic crime to come forward.

The GPA was formed in 1990 and has 30 members in Scotland.

Chief Inspector Lyle, who was Scotland's first GPA member, said: "We want to be able to show that being gay and being a police officer are just part and parcel of every day life and of society.

"And we hope by that to encourage people who may suffer hate crimes or crimes to do with homophobic reasons to come forward."

The Gay Police Association has members in every UK police force

The GPA aims to support gay police staff, improve links with the gay community and reverse the belief that being gay and in the police is incompatible.

The body believes police officers are now more confident about being openly homosexual and is holding a ground-breaking seminar at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan next month to discuss gay issues in the service.

It was formed in 1990 by a handful of officers in the Metropolitan Police.

Over 14 years it has grown into a formally recognised and respected staff association with members in all 52 UK police forces.

It is the only national organisation that specifically represents the needs and interests of gay police staff in the UK.