United stand against violence
The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) and NSW Police have launched a campaign to encourage gay and lesbian crime victims to come forward, just in time for the busy Mardi Gras period.
The AVP’s Nancy de Castro said research showed gays and lesbians often felt a heightened fear of homophobic violence during Mardi Gras, and that the warmer months of the year were associated with a rise in street crime.
“We certainly get more reports at the Anti-Violence Project at this time of year when people are out on the streets a lot more often,” de Castro told Sydney Star Observer.
Police have helped fund the campaign which is an update of the 2005 ‘Dyke Bash Poof Abuse Lezzo Hate Fag’ campaign. The three campaign posters feature photographs of a gay man, a lesbian and NSW Police Gay and Lesbian spokeswoman Supt Donna Adney.
De Castro said the project aims to improve the flow of information on crime affecting GLBT people to the AVP and police.
“Because of the enormous level of underreporting, reports to the AVP are only a small indicator of actual levels of violence — which is why we need a campaign like this so we can get a clear picture of what’s going on,” she said.
“It’s very hard to respond to anecdotes and rumours — we really do need to have the evidence so we can demand that resources be directed to the right places.”
De Castro said it was vital for community members to report any sort of harassment, and if they were unsure whether particular behaviour constituted a crime, the AVP could advise them.
Supt Adney said it was vital for community members to report crime to police, whether they thought it was homophobic or not.
“If victims believe there is an element of homophobic behaviour by the offender, victims need to tell the police what the offender said or did that makes them believe it was homophobic,” Adney said.
“It is vitally important that victims give police as much information as possible as soon as possible after the offence has been committed.”
Adney encouraged those reporting crime to the police to contact the AVP as well, and said she was particularly concerned about homophobic violence directed at young people.
“When police take a report of crime and with help from the victim we identify a sexual preference prejudice element we are able to include that in the report,” she said.
“You may be a victim of crime and be gay or you may be a victim of crime because you’re gay. Either way, report the crime to police.”
info: In an emergency call 000; you can also contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 and the AVP on 9206 2166 or freecall 1800 063 060.
Thanks for the insight Johnnie, unfortunately it’s not reassuring and I’ll take my chances defending myself against attackers, and then THEY’LL be calling the amublance service not the police…..
Chris, I’m sorry that you had a bad experience on Oxford Street. Everyone deserves to be able to go about his or her legitimate business and expect to feel safe, as well as receive high quality of assistance from police. You don’t say why the other person was allowed to leave the scene, or whether you followed the matter up further with police.
In most instances, each and every report of assault, whether its gay related or not, is treated with the utmost seriousness. Trust me, great amounts of time goes into the investigation and evidence gathering of these crimes, and if there is evidence, whether witness statements or camera footage, or even offender admissions, police will prosecute the matter “to the full extent of the law”. Regrettably, without supporting evidence, there is little chance of the matter being referred to the courts for a successful prosecution.
Pete, why shouldn’t Superintendent Adney have her face included in the photos? She is the NSW Police spokesperson when it comes to Gay and Lesbian issues. It serves as proof that the NSW police are serious about incidents of violence, crime and anti-social behaviour towards or involving members of the community by engaging one of the leading officers in the organisation to tackle this important issue.
If there are any police issues relating to the Gay and Lesbian community and crime, she is the person who knows about it, or will get to know about it, and, despite the underlying theme in the comments here, she does seek to address these concerns and manage expectations on, both sides. She is VERY proactive in this area, but like anyone, she can only work with the tools she has available to her, including police staff, the information that is reported to police, as well as assistance from the community itself.
Police understanding of Gay and Lesbian issues has developed a long way since the incident involving Shane and Craig, due in large to Superintendant Adney’s efforts. This can only develop further if the community reports all occurrences of crime and assist police in the investigation of these crimes, as well as police continuing to develop an empathetic approach in dealing with crimes affecting the Gay and Lesbian community.
What I love the most is that Supt Adney after all the insults and non investigations etc is actually in the photos.
And on the note of statistics, if there is a concerted effort by the community to report all incidents of homophobia for the duration of this campaign, will the police claim success when the “statistics” drop off once people get jack of police inaction on their reports????
Politicians are great at manipulating statistics like these.
We report incidents in February, March, April 2010, nothing cchanges so we give up on reporting – so WHAMO! reports drop and police can claim success as there are less reports of homophobic violence than before!!!
Remember guys and gals, no amount of police reporting can change your circumstances if you have life threatening or lifelong injuries after an attack. Everyone in our community should make themselves the best protector of themselves and stop relying on police to come visit you in hospital so they can write their report. That report won’t cure your damaged bodies, nor heal your scars even if they do manage to apprehend the perpertrator. Prevention is always better than a cure.
Mac, all this talk about police telling us to come forward is just alot of hot air on their behalf, because there have been countless stories of police not doing their jobs properly EVEN WHEN VICTIMS REPORT! (Don’t you read sso at all?) Why can’t you understand that publicity stunts like this “report all incidents” only serve to create a sense that victims are the ones with the problem. Innocent people aren’t the police should be targeting. Police should be out in FORCE (yes it’s in their title again!) and jumping down the throats of every drunk, irresponsible and anti-social individual coming down to Oxford st on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s not that difficult to work out that if police take a zero tolerance approach to thugs, (and their hang outs) then those thugs will quickly get the message.
The Craig Gee incident, the Gloria Jeans incident and the Blacktown police incident. All examples of police ineptitude at keeping the community safe because of their own incompetnence! Not because the thugs did it in the first place, but because the police failed to act on reliable information in a timely manner! Police should be spending their “limited resources” on practical policies that see immediate actions, instead of pretty posters telling us to report crimes so they can collect their “statistics”.
Yes, John, police ARE urging victims to come forward. What’s wrong with that? Even I know that resources are placed where need is identified, but if the reports aren’t made, then how are they supposed to know where to focus those limited resources? Oxford Street isn’t the only place things happen, you know. Obviously it’s too much to ask for a bit of community engagement. We have a responsibility to participate in constructive liaison with the police to make things better, not in constant, ill-informed beat ups. I’ll focus my concerns on building more positive relationships, rather than playing the “poor me” card any day.
The fact is that Australian Polaticians & Churches give licence to the wider community of Gay bashers every time they make comments and policies that dont fully recognise us as NATURAL HUMAN BEINGS.
They are the ones encouraging these basher attitudes.
It is time we kicked back with legal action to establish our NATURAL HUMAN BEING status.
VOTE GREEN!
The use of the repeated use of the word “victim” in this article makes my stomach churn. How about “citizen” or “taxpayer” or “voter”. How about the police prove they’re policing the local community or they don’t get paid. What about an Oxford St shopfront instead of the concrete bunker? Why not a tax on local nightclub venues? This is the responsibility of the State Member of Parliament and the Police Minister: I will not be voting for either in the next election.
. . . .the victims of crime often feel a sense of blame that somehow the victim deserved it . This is why so many victims wont come forward. . . .they just want it to go away and stop cluttering their future.
Report all forms of anti gay behaviour as this forms a statistical basis for extra police work.
It can be confusing to sort out what to do next after an attack, vilification, homophobia, bullying, harassment, etc.
Be proud to report these bad experiences to the police and always ask for a copy of the police report .
Yes I was assaulted outside Gloria Jeans cooffee shop last year…the police from Surry Hills Commarnd attended and then ALLOWED my attacker to walk…then run away even though i pointed him out repeatedly. I have zero confidence in the Surry Hills Police Command…this initiative is just spin and nothing else…how stupid do they think we are ????
Personally I can’t wait to become a “victim” of homophobic violence, because I’m just going to beat the crap out of my attackers and be really vicious. Remember if you are out numbered using LETHAL force in perfectly legal. I’m going to claw out their eyes with my bare hands. The police won’t have any problems trying to find them then. By the way Supt Donna Adney, where are Craig Gee’s attackers? because you know his boyfriend pointed out the direction they were heading to the police minutes after the assault and the police didn’t pursue them. Bring on some attackers to me, I’ll give them a lesson they won’t ever forget…..
Police are urging VICTIMS to come forward???? WTF??? How about Police (and courts) put out a strong message that homophobic violence won’t be tolerated and back it up with strong action, so there’ll be less victims in the first place!