The PSNI should not engage with transgender group until disgraceful remarks about police are clarified

We spell out some of the remarks on page 4.

Alexa Moore of Transgender NI calls for the abolition of the police, which is an extreme but legitimate view, but also calls them fascists and pigs. One comment expresses “complete agreement” that violence can be justified.

The News Letter asked Transgender NI if there was an alternative meaning to Alexa Moore’s comment that police “deserve the wall” other than being put against a wall and shot.

We asked Transgender NI and Alexa Moore about all the remarks, to see if they agreed with or wanted to clarify or had anything else to say about the comments. We got no reply.

In the absence of any such clarification, the comments can be taken at their face value — shameful and indeed hateful.

Yet Transgender NI gave a training course to the PSNI in 2018 and one to the Department of Justice in 2019.

Think for a moment about groups who have struggled to get the level of access to police and justice officials that they feel they deserve, including victims of grievous crimes.

Yet Transgender NI not merely got access to these important and influential organisations, it was hired by them.

As an absolutely minimum, Transgender NI should clarify its position with regard to these shocking views.

Transgender issues were once barely discussed but are now coming to the awareness of societies around the world. There is great public goodwill and willingness to learn more about such a sensitive matter. Yet there is no excuse for vile or implicitly threatening comments.

An organisation that does not distance itself from such comments should not under any circumstances be hired by police and justice officials, or even given access to them.

When the police and justice department were asked by this newspaper about these extreme outbursts against police, neither so much as criticised them.

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