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Lincolnshire Police's chief constable defends his officers for dancing the Macarena at Lincoln Pride




The chief constable of Lincolnshire Police has defended officers who were filmed dancing the Macarena at a Pride festival in the county which attracted criticism after a clip was posted online.

Chris Haward defended the actions of his officers and praised them for engaging with the community at the LGBTQ+ Lincoln Pride.

He said: "Lincolnshire Police officers are at Pride to make sure that everyone attending experiences a safe and happy event.

"Lincoln Pride is a celebration of inclusivity and representation within the LGBTQ+ community and, as Lincolnshire Police, we are there to support them and build confidence in our service.

"I expect my officers and staff to engage with people attending Pride; to chat, laugh, join in, and even dance, where it is appropriate to do so and does not detract from their duties.

"Policing is not just about enforcement and patrol but about engagement, understanding and being part of the community.

"We want everyone attending Lincoln Pride to know that we are there for them and that our service to Lincolnshire communities is truly inclusive, we aim to treat every member of the public we serve with fairness and impartiality.

"Pride is one of the many wonderful community events in the county that we are there to police but also to allow people to look behind the uniform and see who we are."

The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police has spoken out after a viral video of officers dancing at Lincoln Pride garnered controversy online. SWNS (58804501)
The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police has spoken out after a viral video of officers dancing at Lincoln Pride garnered controversy online. SWNS (58804501)

The footage was posted online by Lincoln Police and shows four police offices performing the the popular 90s dance routine the Macarena at Lincoln Pride on Saturday. It was one of seven tweets which showed officers at the event. The tweet remains online.

In the video officers can be joining in the festivities while a group of onlookers cheered them on and even joined in.

But after the clip was shared it sparked outrage from people who blasted them for "prancing" and "pratting around" instead of solving crimes.

Among those levelling criticism at the force was the actor Laurence Fox who posted: "I suppose, given the choice, learning the Macarena is a far easier endeavour than actually doing your job."

Columnist Toby Young tweeted: "Why are on-duty police officers partying instead of tackling crime?"



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