Greater Manchester Police officers and staff take part in Manchester Pride in 2012

On May 17 2013 people around the world will mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

There are still 80 countries in the world where homosexuality is illegal – and nine where it is punishable by death.

IDAHO began in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to this issue.

The date of 17 May was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision – in 1990 – to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

IDAHO is now celebrated in more than 100 countries, in all world regions and in places as diverse as Australia, Iran, Cameroon and Albania.

Greater Manchester has led the way in the UK and around the world in driving forward lesbian, gay bisexual and trans (LGBT) equality. Manchester is renowned as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world.

Tony is proud of both Greater Manchester’s LGBT heritage and the city’s association with IDAHO.

Click here for more information about IDAHO.

More than 100 people came along to quiz Tony Lloyd, Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy and Bolton Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Dave Hull at Bolton Town Hall.

Police accountability, restorative justice, changes to probation services and hate crime were among some of the issues raised.

Tony said: “It’s great to see so many people coming to the public meetings. It shows that residents really do care about their communities and want to have a lively debate about how best to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.”

If you couldn’t make it to the meeting you can replay our twitter feed here

This was the fourth of ten public meetings the Commissioner is holding throughout the year.

The next one takes place in Bury on Tuesday 28 May.

If you can’t attend you can submit a question online a week before the meeting or on Twitter using the hashtag #talktotony.

Thirty-five Special Constables and a police officer were officially sworn into Greater Manchester Police at the attestation ceremony at Sedgley Park.

“Volunteers are invaluable to the police service,” said Tony.  “What is really inspiring is that they’re all local men and women – living within the very communities GMP serves – willing to give up their free time to help build safer communities.  I want to thank them for that.”

He has also dismissed claims by tobacco companies that standardised packaging will increase the sale of illicit tobacco.

Tony has written to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, in support of the proposals, which is one of a number of stop smoking measures expected to be announced by the Government later this year.

Tony said: “Smoking is a lethal addiction – one which unfortunately is all too appealing to our children and we have a duty and responsibility to do all we can to deter smoking and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.

“More than 200,000 11-15 year olds take up smoking every year in the UK, with almost 600 children trying a cigarette for the first time, every single day*. By taking away the brightly coloured, branded packaging and replacing it with more prominent, shocking health warnings, we’ll be taking away one reason for our children to start smoking. 

“Tobacco companies have argued that these proposals will make packaging easier to counterfeit and so increase the sale of illegal cigarettes but I’ve spoken with senior officers at Greater Manchester Police who have given me absolute confidence that the security markings to be used on the standardised packaging will be no less useful than the existing system, making them no easier to copy.

“It’s clear to me that standardised packaging will help to reduce the number of people, especially children, smoking, which in turn will improve the health of our citizens and reduce the burden on our public health services. That’s why I have written to the Home Secretary in support of these proposals.”

Pat Karney, Director of Tobacco Action, added: “The tobacco companies are spending millions on trying to stop these sensible proposals. I am proud our Commissioner is standing up for the welfare and health of our young people.

“Kids have a right to grow up in a smoke free world and be protected from the tobacco industry.”

The proposals would mean all cigarette packs would look the same, with no branding or logos and health warnings made more prominent.

The Department of Health ran a public consultation on plain packaging between March 2011 and August 2012.

In December 2012, Australia became the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.

Click here for an infographic on smoking and children. From the plainpacksprotect.co.uk website.

England’s biggest celebration of St George takes place each year in Manchester city centre and this year is no exception.

St George will be honoured through a weekend of flamboyant events from midday Friday 19 April and will continue until Sunday 22 April – with the annual St George’s Day Parade from 11.30am until 1.30pm on Sunday.

The parade – which has been running for 10 years – will start at 11.30am at Varley Street, Miles Platting, but will take a new route this year due to a large fire on Oldham Street earlier this week.

Snaking its way down Ancoats Street, the route will now divert down Lever Street to Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter, before join Oldham Street once again through to Piccadilly Gardens. The three mile parade will then continue its way along Newton Street, Great Ancoats Street, Oldham Road, Butler Street and Bradford Road before returning to Varley Street.

Manchester’s fourth St George’s Festival will return to Albert Square this year, with a variety and performers expecting thousands of visitors each day – with entertainment running across each day from midday until late.

The festival, that celebrates England through the ages, brings a variety of entertainment for all the family – including music from brass bands, to folk and rock and dancing from the ever talented Morris Men.

Fresh food will complement a well-stocked beer and cider festival marquee – as well as a hog roast – with a touch of yesteryear as members of the Sealed Knot historical society don traditional costume – while younger visitors will be kept busy with an inflatable castle, penalty shootout and traditional fun fair. 

All of this is ahead of the actual saint’s day itself, which is on Tuesday 23  April.

For more information visit: www.stgeorgefestival.net or join the conversation on twitter @stgeorgefest.