It's all a bit PC isn't it?

Well deserved, policing has come on in leaps and bounds since the horror days of the twisted, evangelical nutter Anderton.

And I would like to issue them with an award from all of us in the white, straight, christian, working hard to pay the mortgage & not really listened to by politicians community

All men (?) are equal but some are more equal than others!

now lets see them win an award for the I dont care what race gender creed or sexual persuasion you are well treat you all the same ideal
oh yeh i forgot theres not brownie points in that is there

Well all is right with the world. Anyone who complains about the fact that the city is awash with drugs, armed criminals and burglars and that violent crime is up nationally by 7% is obviously the victim of right-wing propaganda. It's good to finally discover what we pay our taxes for and what the priorities of the police authorities really are. And they are amazed that the general public have lost all confidence in the police.

This is why our police force is the worlds laughing stock.

An officer has been tasked to patrol Manchester’s Gay Village on a permanent basis and special centres to report hate crime have been set up.

Well at least we all know where to find a "Bobby" on the beat to report something to. Mind you if it's not "gay" related i would be told to go and report at the Police Station which is closed.

Special Centres, another unecessary cost in these times of hardship. Why can;t the crimes be reported like any other crime. There are already provisions in place for sexual complaints. Why do the need their own centres.

Times HAVE changed for the better since the ANDERTON years! The Jewish community could also do with a bit more visible policing at times of late!!!!!

Some people make anti-gay comments on the internet, ( albeit in a smoke and mirrors way) and some people are more active and physical with their prejudices.

Why would anyone begrudge the police looking out for minorities who are targeted by violent and brain dead bigots?

Maybe it's because some people think gays deserve 'special treatment' that the police need to show the same level of attention to curb it?

I'm not wearing rose tinted glasses, but I'm proud of our local Police. Everyone should be.

We all have a right to protection from the police. So many people suffer hate crime and it's so important that people of all sexuality, race, gender and religion are treated with the respect we all would want ourselves. There are nasty people out there looking for a reason to hate others. This award must mean that the police have taken on board the particular concerns of different communities. It's real progress, no doubt about that. However, we must all be vigilant. As a straight person every time a gay person gets abused that abuser offends me just as much as his or her target because the abuser offends the basic principle of the freedom to be what we are and live as we choose in a democratic society. And that includes getting married in a church if that is what people want. So next time you hear something you don't like and that you know is wrong, challenge it. Stand up for the basic principles and the haters will lose power. It's the only way we will fight this evil.

Whenever I read these articles or see photos like the one here, I can't help but be reminded of the two senior officers in the movie of Catch-22, pleading with Yossarian, "Like us...say nice things about us!"

Jesus taught us to hate and persecute those different from us, and thats good enough for me.

Dont usually pat five oh on the back ,so cut the crime instead and make us all happy. After all is'nt that what the majority of us pay our taxes for ??

I'm glad the Police are looking after the gay community, and hopefully as much as they are looking after all of us. I do get the feeling that there may be some statement being made here by these types of concentrated (if only symbolic) actions, which in some way tries to attone for the previous homophobic attitude of the Police in years gone by. After all, it was an offence for many years, and general Police views must have been in line with the prevailing public opinion at the time, as sad as that is.

Times have thankfully changed. People should never have been effectively excluded from society because of their natural sexual preferences. I'm neither pro-gay nor anti-gay, and if my own lifestyle choices are not impinged, then I have no problem with anyone. I always try to evaluate the person, not use the pre-conceived notions of others as an immediate yardstick.

What work do they have to do with the "gay community" ? All they have to do is Police everyone impartially and equally. Thats all they have to do.