Haringey Police: Tackling LGBT+ hate crime
This LGBT History month we’re talking to some of the brilliant people from the community who are making a positive difference in our borough. There are some amazing people in Haringey and its diversity and inclusivity is something to be celebrated. But hate crime still exists in our borough, and we are working hard with local police to tackle it.
Here we hear from Haringey Police’s DI Dave Hannaway, about the police’s work fighting LGBT+ hate crime:
Hate crime, as opposed to conventional crime, is deeply damaging as it is both traumatising to the victim but also to entire communities. It makes victims of whole groups of people based on race, faith, sexuality and gender and has lasting effects that other crimes may not.
The crime stats within Haringey show an increase in reports of LGBT+ hate crime from 2016 to 2017. Haringey police are actively promoting awareness of hate crime and encouraging reporting. The figures may therefore reflect an increase in confidence in reporting crime.
As part of LGBT History month, officers from Haringey Community Safety Unit are teaming up with Wise Thoughts – the LGBT+ Charity in Wood Green – to provide an opportunity for people to meet with the police, discuss any issues and report crime. We held a session last week and will be at Wise Thoughts again on 21 February.
We have also taken part in an LGBT+ event at Haringey Council, where we heard a really moving story from a resident who had been a hate crime victim.
So why report to police?
We can only do something when we know about it. We all know that the person who shouts homophobic or transphobic abuse on the street today may well end up doing something more violent in the future if they think they can get away with it. If the police don’t know about what’s going on, we can’t prevent things that may get even worse. So, please, please tell us.
How to report:
- Call the police directly on 999 (emergency) or 101
- Report online or at a police station
- Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
- You can report via any of the numerous LGBT charities