Home Office: Homophobic crime down

but transphobic crime up across England and Wales

Figures released this month by the Home Office show there has been a fall in the number of homophobic crimes recorded in England and Wales.

From the period of 2011 to 2012, a total of 4,362 homophobic crimes were recorded in England and Wales.

However, during 2012 to 2013, the number of homophobic crimes fell by 95 to 4,267.

From the period of 2011 to 2012, a total of 309 transphobic crimes were recorded in England and Wales.

In the most recent period of 2012 to 2013, this had increased by 52 to 361 transphobic crimes.

But the Home Office data notes that LGBT hate crimes still remain largely unreported – and this is especially true of crimes against the trans community.

Several LGBT campaign groups have warned that LGBT community confidence in the police has fallen in recent years.

A report released by Galop in August showed 75% of trans people and one-in-eight gay people are the victims of a hate crime each year.

The study also found more than half of all homophobic and transphobic crimes are not reported to the police.

Unlike for homophobic crime, investigations into transphobic crime were often described as “poor”, Galop said in its research.

Research by Stonewall, published in October, showed one-in-six lesbian, gay and bisexual people had experienced a hate crime or incident in the last three years and more than three-quarters of victims did not report what they had experienced to the police.

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European Parliamentary committee adopts roadmap against homophobia and transphobia

A European Parliamentary committee this morning adopted a recommendation for an EU roadmap against homophobia and transphobia.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the recommendation for a roadmap to tackle homophobia and discrimination based on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Today’s report builds on ten previous requests by the European Parliament over three years to roll out an equality strategy for LGBT people.

Similar strategies already exist for Roma integration, gender equality and discrimination.

The report today, which is non-binding, calls on the commission to make proposals for the areas of employment, education, health and access to goods and services.

In May, eleven EU member states expressed support for such a roadmap.

Roberta Metsola MEP, Spokeswoman for the EPP group on the report and Member of the LGBT Intergroup, commented: “The problems LGBTI people face in Europe is serious: discrimination, violence and harassment are persistent phenomena that must be addressed.  The vote this morning sent a strong message and showed a broad consensus across the political spectrum to tackle these issues.”

Ulrike Lunacek MEP (Greens/EFA), author of the report and Co-President of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “This report should encourage the Commission to—at last!—present a coherent approach to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people across policy areas it’s responsible for.  I am very pleased the Committee adopted this report with such a large cross-group majority. The report adopts a balanced approach, and I will be working with all political groups to ensure any doubts are addressed before the text goes to plenary.”

The report is expected to be voted in plenary in the first months of 2014.

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