I WAS deeply disappointed to see that the National Union of Students transgender conference recently voted to try to block police from attending Pride events. The motion No Pride in the Police expressed the view that the police were racist, classist and transphobic and said that “many trans people have faced mistreatment and violence at the hands of the police”.

I’m disappointed on a number of levels. Firstly that delegates felt the need for this divisive motion rather than working towards a solution. Secondly, I’m disappointed people still feel marginalised by the police and that the support I see in the forces I work with isn’t filtering down to the public.

As someone old enough to remember the bad old days, I know how bad the relationship between the police and the trans community has been. But times change, society has changed and so, I believe, have the police.

I’ve worked with a number of police forces to raise awareness of trans identities and issues and I have met nothing but honesty and support. Of course there are still a small minority of officers with bigoted views, the police are part of society and reflect the diversity that exists on our streets. But the overriding impression that I get from the police I meet is of the need to support minority groups and to work together to make society a safer place for everyone. The world improves when people work together to combat injustices, not when we fight those who protect us. The way forward is conversation and inclusivity, not censure and exclusion.

Sophie Cook is a TV presenter and hate crime ambassador for Sussex Police