“The Crown Prosecution Service regard homophobic and transphobic crimes (now referred to as phobic crimes) as particularly serious because they undermine a person’s right to feel safe about and be safe in their sexual orientation and in their gender identity.
Such crimes are based on prejudice, discrimination and hate and they do not have any place in an open and democratic society.
CPS wish to deter people from committing such crimes by issuing a clear statement that such behaviour is not acceptable and, where appropriate, perpetrators will be prosecuted effectively through the criminal courts.”
Here in CPS Lancashire, we work in partnership with the other criminal justice agencies such as the Police, the Courts, the Judiciary and Victim Support to improve understanding of hate crime and build public confidence, encourage reporting of all phobic crime incidents and provide the assistance to meet the individual needs of each victim throughout the court process.
If you want to know a bit more, log on to the links above or contact me direct-Liz Crosley, details below.
I have worked for the CPS for a long time now, I have been through so many changes, so many new initiatives but what makes things really happen is face to face engagement with the local community. I want us to work together to make a difference.
I am a member of the Blackpool Hate Crime Forum headed by Insp Dave Barnes, and I am also due to attend the next LGBT Forum meeting on 14th February, so you can speak to me there.
The new CPS Homophobic & Transphobic Policy can be found on the following page:
http://infonet.cps.gov.uk/infonet/EqualityDiversity/HateCrimes/Disability/index.htm
The link to the national cps website is www.cps.gov.uk
The official policy of the CPS please click the following link:
nshttp://infonet.cps.gov.uk/infonet/EqualityDiversity/HateCrimes/HomophobicCrime/homophobic_crime_publicatio/CMS_016330
TO REPORT A HATE CRIME ONLINE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK;
www.report-it.org.uk