Police force orders male voice choir to change name to be 'politically correct'

A police force has ordered a male voice choir to change its name because it is not "politically correct".

The chief constable of Derbyshire Police wanted Derbyshire Constabulary Male Voice Choir to become a mixed voice group because it does not include women.

After the choir refused, Chief Constable Peter Goodman said it could not keep the constabulary in its name - with the group now going under the name of the Derbyshire Community Male Voice Choir.

Members of the 62-year-old choir, which is made up of former officers, have said they have been left "heartbroken" by the decision.

The move comes after it was announced the force has the worst gender pay gap in the UK which currently stands at 28.8%.

Kevin Griffiths, choir chairman, told the Derby Telegraph: "I was very taken aback by what happened. He said he could no longer support a male voice choir and he said he wanted us to become a mixed voice choir. I was shell-shocked."

Mr Goodman said: "We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to having an organisation where there are no enclaves where people from different backgrounds cannot go.

"Having a male voice choir representing the organisation is incompatible with this, especially as there are no members of the choir who are employed by or who volunteer with us. I wish them all the very best for the future."