Improving community safety for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge

 

LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of safety, abuse and hate crime

Statistics show that LGBTQ+ people are at greater risk of hate crime and abuse. Incidents have a profound affect on people and often means they do not feel able to live as they would like to.

  • Two-thirds (64%) of LGBTQ+ people had experienced anti-LGBT+ violence or abuse at some point.

  • One third (34%) of Black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT people have experienced a hate crime or incident in the past twelve months, compared to one in five white LGBT people (20%).

  • Less than half (44%) of LGBTQ+ people feel safe holding their partner’s hand in public.

We know from our own surveys that LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge experience different kinds of hate crime and abuse:

‘In certain areas, I don’t feel like I can hold my partner’s hand without feeling threatened.’

‘I sometimes get a laughing reaction, or I overhear comments about me when entering certain establishments or in public places.’

‘There has been an increase of verbal homophobia.’

‘I censor some of my behaviour and couch what I say sometimes.’

Help us to increase community safety for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge

We are working with local organisations, community groups, clubs, businesses and others to help them to better understand hate crime and abuse against LGBTQ+ people and what actions they can take to prevent it and increase safety and confidence for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge. We will run FREE workshops and advice sessions, offer advice and provide resources to help local organisations, groups, clubs, businesses and others to increase community safety for LGBTQ+ people in Redbridge and support a zero-tolerance approach to LGBTQ+ hate crime. Workshops can be provided face-to-face or online as standalone meetings or as part of other meetings or events. Resources we can share will include stickers, badges, flyers, posters and other resources. To start with we’ll find out about your starting point, needs and the best way to support you to take further action.

  • Contact us if you would like to find out more and to book a initial chat with our team. We’ll ask you a few questions to learn about your organisation and how you’d like to get involved to help us develop tailored support and resources for you.

  • The Community Safety section of our Directory provides ways to report hate crime, domestic abuse and highlight places where people feel unsafe, as well as where people can get support.

This project is funded by MOPAC Community Engagement Structure Funding, overseen by the Redbridge Safer Neighbourhood Board.