HOME | ARCHIVE | EMAIL US | TRAVEL SECTION
 

UNITED KINGDOM

Gay and Transgender Victims of Bullying Get New Online Reporting Facility

Expanding charity’s drive to increase homophobic crime reporting
 

BRISTOL, September 4, 2008  –  A new online reporting facility for victims of homophobic and transphobic bullying has been launched by Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH).

The scheme is available to young people throughout the UK, and to adults in the West Country of England.

“With computer ownership and usage so extensive today, expanding our service into online reporting was a logical development for EACH’s Homophobic Incident Reporting Service,” explains EACH's Executive Director, Jonathan Charlesworth.
 

The recent YouGov national survey, commissioned by Stonewall, into the reporting of homophobic crimes reflects that although the police are more likely to receive the report of a homophobic incident than anyone else, 68% of respondents never reported an incident to anyone whilst 34% of respondents believed the police would not or could not do anything and 27% thought their report would not be taken seriously.

“Our Force is affirmed by YouGov’s findings which would reflect that the South West experiences the least amount of homophobic crime in Britain,” said Assistant Chief Constable, John Long of Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

“All police forces are acutely aware however that many more incidents of homophobia take place than are reported.

“With 68% of people nationally failing to report such incidents to anyone, and only 23% reporting to the police, initiatives like EACH’s online and freephone telephone reporting services complement the work of the police most effectively,” he added.

Mr. Charlesworth agrees:  “These findings and our own records inform us that a target of homophobia is more likely to report an incident to EACH than a housing officer, social worker or council caseworker.

“It is no coincidence that our organisation’s profile nationally, and local presence specifically, adds to people’s sense of safety.

“We want to build on that confidence by encouraging gay and heterosexual people to adopt a zero tolerance of homophobic incidents by clicking into our online reporting or calling our freephone Actionline, to report them, whenever they’re witnessed.”

The award-winning support and training charity has recently expanded its Bristol offices to accommodate the appointment of its dedicated Caseworker, Gemma Lindsey who joined the team in January and the agency’s new Development Worker, Jenny Drew.

Co-author of the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ recent guidance to schools Safe to Learn: Homophobic Bullying, EACH is welcoming a surge of training invitations from agencies including the Education, Criminal Justice and Health services.

Meanwhile EACH’s UK-wide Actionline continues to provide ongoing support for any young person, giving them the opportunity to report homophobic bullying and seek confidential help and assistance.

■ EACH's freephone Actionline (0808 1000 143) and online reporting facilities provide a confidential service for everyone who lives, works or travels across the West of England.  This is funded by the Councils of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset plus their respective Community Safety teams.

EACH's freephone Actionline (0808 1000 143) for young people is available across the UK.  Calls from payphones and landlines are free.  Some mobile service providers may charge.

Seed Newsvine  

Got an opinion on this article?  Leave your comment here.