Homophobic Incidents:

A homophobic incident is any incident perceived by the victim or any other person to be homophobic.

Homophobic incidents can include verbal abuse, written abuse or any other incident that a person reporting perceives to be homophobic. The victim of a homophobic incident does not have to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to be the victim of homophobic incident.

In the event of any such incident being reported Warwickshire Police will record the incident using the crime recording system. The incident will then be fully investigated.

An incident can be reported in person at any police atation. An initial report can be made by telephone, arrangements will then be made for an officer to attend or if preferred by the victim an arrangement can be made to attend the police station for details to be taken.

Warwickshire Police fully appreciate that victims of homophobic incidents may be reticent to report to the police, we assure you that you will be treated with respect and understanding throughout the initial report and investigative process.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

The CPS has published guidelines for the prosecution of crimes with a homophobic element. This includes crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people.

It is the role of the police to investigate allegations of crime. The CPS provide advice to the police, if they ask for it, about whether to charge a suspect.

Details of the CPS policy for prosecuting cases with a homophobic element can be obtained from:

CPS Communications Branch
50 Ludgate Hill
London EC4M 7EX

Telephone number: 020 7796 8442

Email for enquiries and comments: publicity.branch@cps.gsi.gov.uk