COPS have been blasted by taxpayers’ after one dressed as a giant rainbow-coloured Bumblebee to promote inclusivity - just weeks after a senior figure said the force needed to “focus resources where they are needed most”.

The officer donned the bizarre outfit along with yellow sunglasses to promote a pro-LGBT Pride march on 22 September.

3 Cops were blasted after one dressed as a rainbow-coloured bee for an LGBT march

But Greater Manchester Police was blasted for the stunt in Bolton, which also marked “hate crime awareness” week.

Mark Acaster said: “I am an adult gay male. I don’t want special treatment. I want a police force run by seasoned officers who enforce the law, and are respected by the people they serve. This is a patronising and embarrassing PR disaster.”

Sara Lovett replied: “Here’s a thought... stop with all this PC, virtue signalling nonsense and do your damn job.

“In a time of rising crime, lack of police visibility this really isn’t what the public want to see. Badly misjudged the public mood.”

3 Locals Twitter users blasted the force with one branding the stunt 'badly misjudged'

Simon Lewis added: “Perhaps instead of being inclusive, here is a radical thought do your F**king jobs. No one cares if you are gay, straight or identify as a shoe. Do your f***ing jobs, or should I say have PRIDE in your work by cleaning up the scum you seem to ignore 24/7. GMP is a joke.”

And Ryan Daintree hit out at the stunt, saying: “Cringeworthy! #pride should be getting on those streets and arresting criminals and terrorists!

“Not dressing as a big rainbow but if you’re gonna go down that road I hope to see you’re officers dressed as giant poppies for Armistice Day, we shall see.”

Earlier this month, GMP Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling said a reduction in officer numbers and the “changing nature and complexity” of crime “means that we have to focus our resources where they are needed most’”.

3 Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously blasted the Government for 'gambling' with public safety by cutting cops' funding Credit: Getty - Contributor

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He spoke out after the force was criticised as new figures revealed no suspects are identified in three quarters of vehicle thefts reported to GMP. And four in five residential burglary cases are close without identifying a suspect, according to the study of Home Office data of the 12 months to March.

The survey also found almost half of all shoplifting investigations fail to find a suspect.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously accused the Government of “gambling” with public safety by cutting front-line policing in the city for the eighth year in a row.

Last year crime in the region rose by 31 per cent. Inspectors have also criticised GMP because officers fail to attend incidents quickly enough.

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