Police Scotland has faced significant backlash after an internal memo circulated within the force compared gender-critical campaigners who question aspects of transgender policy to Nazis. The memo, which was later withdrawn, suggested that the belief in a “gender binary” (the idea that there are only two genders) was similar to Nazi ideology. It drew parallels between the historical persecution of gender-diverse individuals by the Nazis and the rise of the gender-critical movement today, particularly in the context of Trans+ History Week. This week commemorates the 1933 Nazi raid on the world’s first trans clinic in Berlin.
The document, which was intended for internal use, caused outrage when it implied that the gender-critical movement was an echo of past hostilities. Murdo Fraser, a Scottish Conservative MSP, strongly criticized the comparison as “outrageous” and offensive, stating that people who question gender self-identification laws should not be vilified for their views.
While Police Scotland quickly retracted the document and distanced itself from its content, the incident raised concerns about the force’s neutrality on transgender issues. The memo echoed language often associated with Stonewall, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, which has been criticized for its stance on transgender self-identification. This has led to further questions about Police Scotland’s ties to LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and the influence of these groups on police policy.
The controversy also sparked a broader debate about the role of law enforcement in politically sensitive issues like transgender rights. Critics, including Dr. Stuart Waiton, a sociologist, argued that Police Scotland’s involvement in such divisive debates risks undermining its impartiality. The key issue is whether the police force can remain neutral or if it has become politically influenced in its approach to sex and gender.
This controversy comes at a time when Police Scotland is preparing to host a closed-door roundtable event to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling on transgender rights. The ruling clarified that the terms “woman” and “sex” under the Equality Act 2010 specifically refer to biological sex, not gender identity. Police Scotland, which had previously withdrawn from Stonewall’s Diversity Champions program, now faces pressure to revise its policies in light of the ruling.
Ultimately, the question remains whether Police Scotland can restore public trust and return to a position of neutrality on contentious issues. The force’s response to this scandal will be critical in determining whether it can maintain its credibility as a neutral institution in the face of an increasingly polarized debate on gender and sex.
