Early this week, Scotland's second largest police force, the Lothian and Borders Police, announced a drive to recruit gay and lesbian officers. In a move aimed at renewing ties with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) communities as well as other groups, the Lothian and Borders police will be spending 45,000 pounds to encourage applications from gays, lesbians, cultural and other minority groups. Some advertisements will be appearing in bus posters and in London-based Pink Paper, a periodical with a strong gay and lesbian following.

This groundbreaking initiative hopes to recruit some 106 new officers. This moves comes shortly in the wake of a series of arrests of gay men who had allegedly been engaging in sexual activities in the toilets of Cathedral Lane. While some see it as a conciliatory move to appease the uneasy sentiments of the local GLBT communities, many also applaud this open-minded approach to community building, including some of the city's Conservative councillors.