Homophobic crime

What is homophobic crime?

Homophobic crime is any incident which is perceived to be homophobic by the victim or any other person, that is directed to impact upon those known or perceived to be lesbian, gay men, bisexual or transgender people (LGBT).

A victim of this type of incident (also knows as hate crime) does not have to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, but considered to be so by the offender.

Incidents can include bullying, harassment, assault, verbal abuse, name calling, damage to property and graffiti.

If you are a victim of homophobic crime, or have witnessed a homophobic incident, you can make a difference by reporting the incident, and by getting the support you need. Please see the West London Gay Men's Project site for further details.

Domestic violence

Domestic violence may also be a form of homophobic crime. Domestic violence towards LGBT people can be instigated by partners, family, relatives, carers or friends, and can take many forms.

Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender entitles you to the same right to be protected as other people. You are not to blame for abuse you are suffering. Everyone has the right to be loved and to be free from abuse.

If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and being abused within your relationship or family then you can make a difference by reporting it. You don’t have to press charges if you don’t want to, but you will get the support and advice you need, in confidence.

The Hounslow Homophobic Crime Stakeholders Group

This group has been set up as part of the Hounslow Crime Reduction Strategy for 2002/05.

The objective of the group is to increase the confidence and capacity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to report homophobic offences.

The group meets quarterly and is responsible for developing and implementing the homophobic crime action plan for Hounslow.

The group welcomes feedback from the local community about what is happening in the borough and what work needs to be done to address homophobic crime.

The chair of this group is Permjit Chadha.
She can be contacted on:
Tel: 020 8583 2483
E-mail: permjit.chadha@hounslow.gov.uk
Or write to the group c/o: Community Safety and Crime Reduction Unit, Civic Centre, Hounslow TW3 4DN.

Reporting homophobic crime

Why report it?

It is important to report incidents of homophobic or hate crime. Reporting provides valuable information, which may contribute to the arrest and or prosecution of offenders.

Recording the information will enable the police to build up patterns of behaviour of offenders and areas of concern for the LGBT community.

Analysing the information is valuable in forming local based multi agency projects to combat homophobic, transphobic, domestic violence and hate crime.

How can I report it?

You can report an incident in several ways – either yourself (self-reporting) or through another person (third party reporting).

You are in control of the amount of information and detail you wish to give.

If you do not include your details:

The incident will be used for monitoring purposes only. This means no action will be taken to investigate the incident.

If you do include your details:

The incident will be investigated and followed up and you can get the support you need.

To report the incident yourself (self-reporting):

In an emergency call 999

1. Phone your local police station.

If you make it clear that you believe the incident to be homophobic, you will be referred to your Borough Community Safety Unit (CSU). (see below)

Your local police stations are:

Chiswick Police Station,
209-211 Chiswick High Road,
Chiswick,
London, W4 2DU

Tel: 020 8247 6425 or 020 8247 6426

Feltham Police Station,
34 Hanworth Road,
Feltham TW13 5BD

Tel: 020 8247 6374

Hounslow Police Station,
5 Montague Road,
Hounslow, TW3 1LB

Tel: 020 8577 1212

Hammersmith Police Station,
226 Shepherds Bush Road,
Hammersmith, London, W6 7NX

Tel: 020 8563 1212

Ealing Police Station,
67-69 Uxbridge Road,
Ealing,
London W5 5SJ

Tel: 020 8810 1212

2. Download ( Microsoft Word, size 25kb) this simple self-reporting form,and send it to the police when completed.

3. Contact your local community safety unit. This is specially set up to deal with all hate crimes and domestic violence.

Community Safety Unit:
Feltham Police Station
34 Hanworth Road
Feltham
TW13 5BD

Tel: 020 8247 6374.

4. Phone Crime Stoppers - 0800 555 111

This will allow you to report the incident anonymously, without leaving your name or contact details.

5. Pick up and complete a self reporting form from one of the gay pubs in Hounslow

6. Use the interactive kiosk at the Windsor Castle pub

To report the incident to a third party

The third party will pass this information on to the police in an anonymous format if required. This means that you do not have to have any further contact with the Police or any other agency if you do not wish to.

Use the interactive kiosk: the Windsor Castle pub.

Contact the EHH Gay Men's project on 0800 587 8302 to complete the incident report verbally or online at www.westlondongmp.org.uk/index/homophobic_crime.htm

Contact Galop via thier helpline - Shoutline 020 7704 2040 (Minicom 020 7704 3111 or their website www.galop.org.uk to complete the incident report.

Contact Out West on 020 8892 5061.

Personal safety tips

Stay alert. Be aware of what is going on around you at all times.
Don’t leave venues alone. Leave with friends whenever possible.
Be confident – even when you don’t feel it.
Keep to well-lit areas and make sure you know your way.
Only use licensed minicabs or black cabs
Trust your instincts
Have your keys in your had when you reach home or your car.
Carry a personal alarm, and use it.

If you are a victim of homophobic or hate crime:

Make as much noise as possible
Get help immediately – dial 999 or call a passer-by
Call your local policy station and ask to speak to the Community Safety Team or LGBT Liaison Officer
Get medical attention if necessary
If you have been attacked don’t shower or change your clothes. You could destroy evidence
Don’t drink alcohol. You will need to give a clear account of what happened.
If you lose anything with your address on it, don’t go home. Call home and let them know.
If your keys have been lost or stolen, change your locks as soon as possible.

If you witness a homophobic incident

Call for help or dial 999
Don’t physically intervene. You could also get hurt
Make a note of the incident if possible
Report the incident to the police or one of the other reporting agencies above

Support organisations

Where can I get support if have been a victim of homophobic crime or if I know someone else who has been a victim?

You can get support from the following organisations who regularly work with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Local support

Community Safety Unit
Hounslow District Metropolitan Police: Specialist support for lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender victims of crime
020 8247 6374

EHH Gay Men’s Project
A gay and bisexual men’s HIV and sexual health promotion service.
General enquiries: 020 8583 6461 or email: Oliver.Gilbody@hounslow.gov.uk

Outreach team
020 8583 2586
george.leonard@hounslow.gov.uk

Hounslow Youth Counselling Service
Offer free confidential counselling to all young people under 26
020 8568 1818

NAZ Project
For people from south Asian, Middle Easter, north African, horn of Africa and Latin American communities. Offers sexual health and HIV/Aids referral service for LGBT people.
020 8741 1879
email: naz@naz.org.uk
www.naz.org.uk

Sexual Health Advice and Support
Offers advice and support from someone who’s been through similar experiences. One to one service.
0800 587 8302

Victim Support Hounslow
Offer free, confidential service to all victims of crime with trained worker for homophobic crime
020 8568 3279

West Middlesex Sexual Health Clinic
Sexual health clinic offers HIV testing and screening for Sexually trransmitted infections
020 8321 5718

Other services

Albert Kennedy Trust
Supported housing for GLBT teenagers up to 18 years, and advice for teens under 21 years.
020 7831 6562
www.akt.org.uk

Beaumont Society: Transgender support
07941 696609
email: sandrafirebird@hotmail.com
www.beaumontsociety.org.uk

Broken Rainbow Hotline
24-hour reporting and referral service for LGBT people experiencing domestic violence
07812 644 914

GALOP
Advice and support to LGBT people experiencing homophobic violence or who have issues with the police.
020 7704 2040

London Friend
Counselling, support and service for LGBT people.
020 7837 3337
www.londonfriend.org.uk

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
24-hour help an advice targeted mainly at lesbians and gay men
020 7837 7324
www.queery.org.uk

Opendoor Housing
Gay men’s team providing shared housing and other services for vulnerable gay men escaping domestic violence and victims of male rape. Ages 16-64.
020 8743 2165

Out West
The West London lesbian, bay, bisexual and transgender social and community support group
Tel: 020 8892 5061
E-mail: chris_boucher69@hotmail.com
Web: www.outwest.org.uk

PACE
Offers raining, support, counselling and advocacy to LGBT people.
020 7700 1323

Rubicon
Transsexual support group providing advice and support to trans people, including those experiencing domestic violence
020 8252 2623

Stonewall Housing
Housing advice service for lesbians and gay men of all ages including people experiencing domestic violence and hate rimes.
020 7359 5767

SW5
Offers free confidential counselling to guys who sell sex and who experience domestic violence.
020 7370 0406
sw5.info

Survivors UK
Help for men who been sexually abused or raped.
020 7357 6677
www.survivors.org.uk

Terrence Higgins Trust
HIV and AIDS charity. Offers counselling, help and advice to gay men experiencing domestic violence
020 7835 1495
www.tht.org.uk

Working Men's Project
Free confidential sexual health service for men who sell sex to men.
020 7886 1524
www.wmplondon.org.uk