THE deputy leader of Bromsgrove District Council, Cllr Adam Kent, has criticised the town’s police force for attending Bromsgrove Pride rather than ‘fighting crime’.

Lee Page, safer neighbourhood inspector for Bromsgrove and Redditch retweeted Bromsgrove Police’s image of their attendance at Bromsgrove Pride.

Cllr Kent then responded to the tweet: “Once upon a time the police fought crime! My residents suffer with anti-social behaviour, burglaries, car theft and speeding.

“They will be delighted you can afford to spare officer for a carnival @WestMerciaPCC @CCPippaMills @pritipatel. Try nicking someone!”

Inspector Lee Page then tweeted: “Following reports of homophobic and transphobic abuse towards young people in Bromsgrove, the town's LGBTQ+ community were certainly delighted with Anna and Eleanor's presence at Pride today and the team have my full support.

“There are more than two officers policing Bromsgrove.”

Cllr Kent deleted his tweet as ‘it was selectively used by others to misrepresent the original post’ and blocked Inspector Lee Page.

Insp page tweeted: “Disappointed Cllr Adam Kent blocked me before I had the opportunity to respond to his public criticism of me and my team.

“Speeding, anti-social behaviour and burglary are important, of course they are - which is why I met with him to discuss these issues just a few weeks ago.

“Equally important is hate crime against marginalised communities, who also have a right to be heard.

“Our efforts are therefore focused on providing a fair, accessible, accountable neighbourhood policing service to all and I make no apologies for that.

“It's our #PolicingPromise."

Chief Inspector for North Worcestershire, CI Ed Hancox said, ‘he thought the deputy leader of BDC would have fully supported’ the police attending Pride and ‘the cells in North Worcestershire are full this morning'.

Fellow Bromsgrove District councillor Cllr Harrison Rone-Clarke was ‘disappointed’ to see a member of cabinet ‘refer to pride as a carnival’. He said ‘pride is not a trivial event and it’s not a carnival.’

Cllr Rone-Clarke also said that Cllr Kent should apologise to Lee Page and ‘then agree to meet with representatives of the local LGBT+ community to talk about the issues we face and the importance of pride.’

Bromsgrove held its first Pride event on Saturday, October 2 and was attended by Hereford and Worcester fire service, Bromsgrove Police and many LGBT support groups and charities.