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Team will fight gay hate crime


PC Scott Whittaker
POLICE have set up a specialist squad to stem an increase in homophobic crime in Islington.
The new eight-strong team was commissioned after it was revealed that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were more frightened of reporting attacks than any other victim group.
Police Constable Scott Whittaker, who will head the new squad, is calling on victims to come forward with information, and promises discretion and support throughout the crime investigation.
PC Whittaker said: “People have been telling us they still lack confidence in coming forward because there isn’t the trust there.
“Until we know about the incidents we can’t put extra patrols out in other areas.”
He added: “My new role is to go out and explain to people that we do have gay and lesbian people in the police and to come out and let us know about homophobic incidents.”
A new telephone hotline is due to be announced and an interim answerphone number has been set up.
PC Whittaker and his team will also be providing support throughout court hearings.
He explained: “It could be quite daunting to go to court – in case the defence brings up parts of the victim’s lifestyle.
“I will accompany them through the court system.”
Police officers, who will mostly be working in plain-clothes, have already begun spreading the word at well-known venues in the area.
And PC Whittaker stressed: “We’re not looking to bring up someone’s lifestyle just because they’ve been assaulted.
“Long gone are the days when police went out actively policing cruising grounds.”
He said that Islington has a sizeable lesbian and gay community, which is reflected in the number of lesbian and gay police officers based in Islington.
PC Whittaker added: “Islington station from my own point of view is a very inclusive station.”
New ways of reporting incidents have been introduced in consultation with lesbian and gay groups so victims can now fill in self-reporting forms.
Islington Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Forum chairman Jack Gilbert has welcomed the move.
He said: “This role was created as a direct result of 18 months of lobbying from the forum.
“We look forward to working closely with Scott to ensure there are both easy ways for people to report directly to the police and clear ways for them to report to third parties.
“We want to hear about all incidents large or small and if people don’t wish to go to the police they should contact community organisations like Gay and Lesbian Policing Project on 0207 704 6767.”
Anyone who wants to report a crime can call Islington police’s lesbian and gay hotline on 0207 421 0153.



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