Dorset police
Their website is http://www.dorset.police.uk. Their main switchboard is 01202 222222 or 01305 222222. In an emergency, especially where life is at risk, simply phone 999.
Liaison Officers
Dorset police have a team of LGB/T Liaison Officers, called LAGLOs (Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officers, though they are not of course all LGB/T themselves). Here are the LAGLO team contact details:
e-mail: LAGLO (at) dorset.pnn.police.uk
Phone: (01202) 269911
This phone is a confidential voicemail service: the LAGLOs tell us that it is checked for messages once a day.
If you want to get straight through to a LAGLO officer on a crime issue, phone the Dorset police switchboard and as to be put through to a LAGLO. The switchboard number is (01202) 222222 or (01305) 222222.
Policies
Dorset Police have a lot of policies on their website, but very little good practical stuff in writing on any of our issues. Contact with us in 2006 indicated there was at the time internal opposition to the idea of having any kind of Equality of Service Policy covering LGB/T people, though we think this ought to be a major priority for them.
(Dorset police, please tell us if any of this needs correcting. And do tell us when any of it changes!)
They do have a good, recent, "Partnership Policy" (dated November 2006), and we look forward to seeing this implemented: this could be the beginning of real involvement with phobic crime, and the needs and concerns of a broad spectrum of LGB/T people, across the whole of Dorset.
Our own work with Dorset police
Recent contact (October 2007) suggests that there is a good chance of progress in the near future, especially around two key issues: getting help resources to people affected by phobic prejudice in the rural areas, and encouraging reporting.
In the past we have enjoyed working with Dorset Police, which has some excellent officers and staff. But it is only now that we seem to be meeting people who are able to reach the levers that would effect real change for real LGB/T people on the ground. We are becoming hopeful. Watch this space!
Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships
When it comes to preventing phobic crime, we have to look at the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships ("the CDRPs"). There is one of these for each local government district. They include local government, the police, health, probation, the drug and alcohol action team, and other public authorities. They have not been very active on phobic crime issues, so far, but we believe the very important new Regulations prohibiting indirect and direct discrimination in the provision of goods and services may have a positive effect (these came into force on 30 April 2007, and high time too).
One of the problems with CDRPs has always been that very few LGB and Trans people are abe to get involved in their work on behalf of the communities. (Of course there is often at least one LGB/T person sitting at the table, representing one of the public authorities, though their closet door is firmly---and in some local government districts very understandably---shut fast.) Another problem is that even where an LGB/T person is able to participate as themselves, it is very hard to get the relevant issues and needs prioritised by all the public authorities to the point where something is actually achieved. We do encounter what is most politely called "resistance".
To find out more about what your local CDRP is doing, or not doing, contact Intercom.