Tayside Police have spent almost £3,000 on a survey which asks people whether they are “transgender”.
The survey, which also asks people for their perception of policing, has been criticised as a waste of money.
And one householder commented: “What has my sexuality got to do with the police? If I was mugged, would it matter if I was a transgender Muslim or a bisexual Buddhist?”
Value
The survey’s cost was criticised by the TaxPayers’ Alliance who questioned whether such questionnaires “in any way represent value for taxpayers’ money”.
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser commented: “Tayside Police are entitled to survey the public about their experiences of crime.
“But you have to question why they need to know the sexuality or ethnic origin of those responding.
“Whether folk consider themselves transgender must surely be irrelevant to their views on fighting crime.”
Strange
And the Daily Record newspaper said “there is something distinctly strange about the police surveying thousands of members of the public to ask them about their sexual orientation”.
Included in the survey was the question: “What is your sexual orientation?”
Another question asked: “Do you currently, or have you ever, considered yourself as transgender?”
Community
A spokesman from the force said the information was gathered to understand “how people from different sections of the community perceive Tayside Police”.
He added: “Without monitoring, the force would not be able to measure improvements and remove practice or procedure which may impact negatively on some people.
“The survey will assist in providing an effective and fair police service to the diverse communities in Tayside.”
Library
Last year in England, Islington Council asked people wanting to a join a library if they were transgender.
And a grandmother living in North Norfolk was questioned about her sexual orientation after she complained about her council’s bin collection service.