What to expect from Thames Valley Police
if you report an incident to them
If you want to report a homophobic, biphobic or transphobic incident to Thames Valley Police, they will ensure that:
• you are treated with respect and as an individual
• your incident is treated very seriously
• your incident is handled promptly and with sensitivity
• the information you provide is treated as confidential. It will not be shared with your family, friends or work colleagues
• they will only contact you according to your wishes and at a place you’re happy with
To find out more about what happens when you contact the Police to report an incident, read HALT’s free info sheet. Click Here
Contact information for reporting incidents can be found on our homepage
Real-
What happened?
On 27 January 2010, a man was stabbed in Oxford. He was walking with his partner when they saw a man lying in the front garden of a house. The men went over to see if the man in the garden was ok. He got up and shouted homophobic abuse at the two men. An argument ensued and the man in the garden then ran off returning a short while later with a woman. He approached the two men, stabbed the victim in the stomach and ran away.
How did the police respond?
The offender was charged with GBH. It was important to offer support to the victim and the police arranged for a gay officer to be a single point of contact for the victim. The Thames Valley Gay Police Association (TVGPA) offered support to the officer in charge of the investigation. HALT and the Terrance Higgins Trust and other support networks were informed.
The police were also quick to reassure the gay community. Two TVGPA members attended Oxford’s gay pubs and club in uniform the following two nights, so if anyone had concerns about the incident, they could offer support.
The victim made a full recovery.