An overdue Christmas pardon

Alan Turing is considered the father of computer science and in WWII his work with code breaking (especially Enigma) saved numerous lives. His work was indispensable to the efforts of Hut 8.

He was granted an OBE in 1945 for his wartime service. From 1945 to 1952 he worked on early computers.

In 1952 he started a relationship with a 19 year old man. The Police arrested the men for their consensual relationship, when Turing acknowledged their relationship to them, as they were investigating a burglary at his place. He pleaded guilty to “gross indecency” and was given a choice between prison and chemical castration which rendered him impotent.

He killed himself in 1954, by cyanide.

Yesterday, the UK Government had the Queen exercise the royal prerogative of mercy and pardon Turing for his conviction. It is appalling that anyone, let alone a war hero and one of the most brilliant men of his generation, was charged with a crime for an adult consensual relationship that harmed no one. Even worse that the consequences were prison or castration.