Hertfordshire Constabulary’s LGBT+ Liaison Officers will be attending Herts Pride on Saturday, August 31 as part of their work to ensure that the county is a safe place for all communities.
Herts Pride, which takes place at Cassiobury Park in Watford, is a key date in the Constabulary’s calendar and officers attend every year.
The Constabulary’s LGBT+ Liaison Officers are based all over the county and are specially trained to support people from LGBT+ communities.
They aim to encourage the community to report homophobic, biphobic and transphobic hate crimes to police and they give information, advice and support to victims and witnesses.
LGBT+ Liaison Officers also advise and support fellow police officers dealing with such crimes.
Chief Superintendent Matt Nicholls is the Constabulary’s Strategic Lead for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and will be attending on Saturday. He said: “Our LGBT+ Liaison Officers can be requested when you report a crime to us.
“Being different is not a crime but being victimised because of it is. We are here to support you and you will always be taken seriously.”
As well as finding out more about the role of LGBT+ Liaison Officers, attendees at Herts Pride will be able to learn about police job opportunities. The Constabulary is committed to creating a more diverse workplace.
Chief Superintendent Nicholls, who is also the Policing Commander for local policing in Hertfordshire, will be there on Saturday. He said: “Diverse backgrounds make a productive team and it’s important that the Constabulary is representative of our wider communities.
“We were delighted to have been ranked 121 out of 445 organisations in this year’s Stonewall Workplace Equality Index which looks at workplace culture for LGBT+ staff. Supporting our LGBT+ colleagues, as well as the public, is very important to us.
“If you’re coming along to Pride on Saturday, please do not hesitate to drop by and say hello to us.
“I’d like to wish Hertfordshire’s LGBT+ community a safe and happy pride and we look forward to meeting lots of you at what is sure to be another fantastic event.”
- Reporting hate crime
Hate crimes are crimes like any other, but that have the added distinction that the victim was targeted because of their disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Victims and witnesses can report incidents to police without fear via the non-emergency number 101, online at herts.police.uk/Report or 999 if a crime is on-going. Victims can be reassured that they will be taken seriously and treated with sensitivity.
For more information about hate crime, including how to report it and where to get support go to hertfordshire.gov.uk/hertsagainsthate.
- How to contact an LGBT+ Liaison Officer
LGBT+ Liaison Officers can be reached by calling the non-emergency number 101 or by contacting us online. In an emergency or if a crime is on-going, report it immediately via 999. The support of an LGBT+ Officer can then be requested if required. We will treat what you tell us sensitively and in confidence.
To contact an LGBT+ Officer in your local area for non-urgent advice ring 101 and ask to leave a message for them to contact you.
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