WMP Memories, we would love to have reflections and stories about the police and the LGBTQ+ community.
The West Midlands Police LGBTQ+ Network are creating a new museum exhibit to record and reflect on the experiences of LGBT+ people with the police in our area during the 1970s,1980s and 1990s. This will focus honestly on personal stories, including the harm and injustice many experienced, so there is a clear record for the future and a shared commitment to doing better.
We are asking members of our local LGBT+ community to share their memories of contact with the police from that period , whether as victims, witnesses, bystanders, activists, or simply as people trying to live their lives. These stories may include discrimination, harassment or fear, but also examples of courage, resistance, and moments where individual officers tried to do the right thing. All of this is important to understand how policing really felt for our communities at the time.
Protecting your confidentiality – We know these stories can be deeply sensitive and personal. Anything you share will be treated with care and confidentiality, and can be used anonymously in the exhibit if you wish. You will remain in control of how your story is shared, and we will work with you to ensure it feels safe and respectful.
Our aim – is not to rewrite history, but to face it. By listening and recording these experiences, our force can acknowledge the negative actions of policing in the past, learn from those mistakes, and use that learning to shape a more inclusive, accountable and trustworthy service today. This work is part of how we can better understand community needs, and how we start to build stronger bridges for the future.
Share your experience – If you are willing to share your story or would like to talk about what this might involve, please contact lgbtqplus@westmidlands.police.uk and let us know if you would prefer to remain anonymous. Your voice matters, and it can help ensure that what happened to our communities is neither forgotten nor repeated.
