(posted 7427 days ago)South London Press
The fight against hatred ...
Dec 23 2003
By Richard EvansA PIONEERING scheme has been set up to tackle gay and lesbian hate crime - because of a lack of confidence in the police.
Groups that are not part of the police force will be able to log reports of homophobic and trans-phobic offences when the Lambeth project - the first in London - is launched on January 15.
The borough has some of the highest levels of reports of this type of crime in the capital, but it is thought many incidents go unreported because of lack of confidence in the investigative process.
As well as hate crime against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) communities, the new scheme can be used to report crimes stemming from ignorance of HIV.
PC Andy Hewlett, Lambeth's LGBT liaison officer, is himself HIV positive.
He said: "As an organisation, I feel we have now earned more confidence from our LGBT communities but we are still not where we need to be. As an HIV-positive man, I've personal understanding of the irrational fear and hatred which confronts HIV-positive men and women, which often surfaces with a criminal offence.
"We're very lucky to have involvement of our partner organisations who are taking on the role of non-police reporters. Without their help, there would be no initiative."
There are designated sites where crimes can be reported, and trained staff will give guidance on the next step, along with giving information on support services.
All information will be treated in confidence and personal details do not have to be given, but all reports will be passed to police.
The reporting centres are:
UK Coalition, 250 Kennington Lane, Kennington SE11 5RD, Tel: 020 7793 0046; Streatham Town Centre Office, 85-87 Streatham High Road, Streatham SW16 1PH, Tel: 020 7926 5901; Victims Support Lambeth, 1st Floor, Lincoln House, 1-3 Brixton Road, Kennington SW9 6DE, Tel: 020 7820 0007.
All sites are open during office hours, except the UK Coalition, which does not open until 10am.
What do you think about the new scheme?
Write to South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, Streatham, SW16 2PD or email letters@slp.co.uk