The chief constable of Wiltshire Police has said she is "truly sorry" for "discrimination" shown to minority groups including people of a LGBTQ+ background.

In a letter to LGBT+ campaigner Peter Tatchell, the chief constable of Wiltshire Police Catherine Roper said that the force had “misused and misapplied” the law and she has “no doubt there will have been prejudiced behaviour which will have caused discrimination and hurt to minority groups.”

In her apology letter, the constable expressed regret for the way the police enforced historic anti-LGBT+ laws, which Mr Tatchell said was "often abusive".

“It is clear that in the past, the implementation of the law - and the discretion we are given as Police Officers in the policing of the law - was in some cases misused and misapplied, whether through processes, systems or behaviour,” the letter from Chief Constable Roper reads.

“I have no doubt that this means there will have been prejudiced behaviour across the history of policing where we haven’t got things right and which will have caused discrimination and hurt to many minority groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.

“This saddens me deeply and I am truly sorry for the harm caused, both to my internal colleagues, and to our communities.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Chief Constable Catherine Roper has been praised for her frank apology that doesn't beat around the bush.Chief Constable Catherine Roper has been praised for her frank apology that doesn't beat around the bush. (Image: Wiltshire Police)

"Whilst I cannot change the past, I can influence the future," Roper added.

"Since arriving in the Force I have established my key operational priorities – and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion features as a central core component to all that we must do.

"We have more to do, but I am determined that discrimination will not feature in the policing of Wiltshire’s future."

Ms Roper is the eleventh UK police chief to have formally apologised to the LGBT+ community, after the Avon & Somerset, Metropolitan, City of London, Sussex, Sout Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Gwent, Cambridgeshire, West Mercia and Nottingham forces have all also apologised.

The apologies have been sparked by the Peter Tatchell Foundation’s #ApologiseNow campaign which was backed by TV presented Paul O’Grady before his death.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Paul O'Grady (right) was a big supporter of Peter Tatchell's (left) campaign before Paul's death.Paul O'Grady (right) was a big supporter of Peter Tatchell's (left) campaign before Paul's death. (Image: Peter Tatchell Foundation)

“I am immensely grateful to Catherine Roper for her forthright apology to the LGBT+ community on behalf of Wiltshire Police,” said Mr Tatchell.

“Catherine Roper didn’t hesitate or evade the need for a clear apology and that marks her out as a commendable police chief.

“This apology will go a long way towards securing a more constructive, collaborative relationship between Wiltshire Police and LGBT+ people

“I hope it will inspire more LGBT people to report hate crime, domestic abuse and sexual assaults, which is what we all want,” he added.