Somerset Police
Somerset Police are part of a larger Police Service called "Avon and Somerset Police", which covers not only part of the Intercom area (Somerset, North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset) but also large areas that Intercom does not cover: Bristol, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire.
The Avon and Somerset Police website is http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk. Their main switchboard is 0845 4567000. In an emergency, especially where life is at risk, simply phone 999.
Local Diversity Officers
We hear from our colleagues in a local LGB/T organisation in Somerset that there are excellent local Diversity Officers in the County, and that their services to people affected by phobic crime are first-class. We aren't sure about North Somerset or Bath and North East Somerset. All information gratefully received.
Policies
Avon & Somerset police have a "Hate Incident or Crime" document on their website, one page long. We don't feel it does anything to improve Somerset LGB/T people's trust and confidence in the service.
And unfortunately that seems to be the lot: we can find little else of substance on their website that connects with any of the issues that affect us as LGB/T people.
(Avon and Somerset police, please tell us if any of this needs correcting. And do tell us when any of it changes! And any LGB/T community groups who aren't in touch with us, do tell us what your experiences have been around crime-prevention and the reporting and handling of incidents.)
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.