Gender critical staff network launched at Metropolitan Police

A staff network dedicated to gender critical views has launched at the Metropolitan Police, PinkNews can exclusively reveal.

Details about the new Gender Critical Network were shared on the Metropolitan Police’s internal intranet and alongside an introduction to what gender critical views are, which stated they are beliefs “widely shared by a diverse range of men and women of all sexualities, races, nationalities, faiths and political persuasions”.

In a post on the force’s intranet, which was shared with PinkNews, the network states that “understanding gender critical perspectives will help the MPS to build a more inclusive culture”.

“It is important that we understand and acknowledge that a multitude of views are held by our own staff and the populations we police,” the post reads.

“Our aim is to help the Met represent everyone, equally and respectfully, so we can unite to make the organisation better.”

The post also includes an explanation of what gender critical views are, stating they are beliefs which are “widely shared by a diverse range of men and women of all sexualities, races, nationalities, faiths and political persuasions”.

They add gender critical views see biological sex as “observable and unchangeable fact” and should not be “confused or conflated with gender, or gender identity, which is a state of mind”.

“Biological sex matters in the workplace, in policing and in wider society and that in some circumstances it matters as much as, or even more than, gender identity,” a third point in the post reads.

When the post was shared with PinkNews, concerns were raised that the Met’s LGBTQ+ Network had not be consulted or informed about the formation of the Gender Critical Network.

However, a spokesperson for the force clarified that the LGBTQ+ Network had been informed and the police force is continuing to liaise with its LGBTQ+ groups to ensure they are feel supported and are able to raise concerns.

News of the new Network, which was allegedly formed in December 2024, comes after the UK’s Supreme Court ruled the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ in the 2010 Equality Act solely refers to ‘biology’ and excludes trans people.

The case was brought by JK Rowling-supported gender-critical group For Women Scotland (FWS) against the Scottish government following years of legal wrangling and asked the court’s justices to consider the question: “Is a person with a full Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) which recognises that their gender is female, a ‘woman’ for the 2010 Equality Act?”

The decision by the court’s justices is expected to have wide-ranging implications both for the trans and non-binary community but also for public bodies, organisations and services who will be asked to update their polices on inclusion and single-sex spaces to reflect the court’s findings.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “Our numerous staff networks represent a broad range of perspectives and beliefs and we are legally obliged to support them.

“We fully acknowledge this is a polarising debate. However, we have a duty under the Equality Act to ensure those who work for the Met are able to express beliefs which are protected by law. All groups are expected to meet our standards of conduct and mutual respect.

“We are committed to working with the National Police Chief’s Council and others to navigate a way forward following the Supreme Court judgment.”