Kent Police will be holding a series of events in February to support LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) History Month.
 
On February 10, in partnership with Kent County Council, Kent Police is hosting an LGBT joint staff support groups seminar in Medway. This will bring together existing Kent LGBT staff support groups, their employers and other public sector organisations across Kent.
 
This event will detail the benefits of establishing LGBT staff support groups and joining LGBT organisations, such as the Stonewall Equality Champion's Network and participating in their annual Workplace Equality Index.
 
On February 17, Dr Greg Ussher from the Metro Centre, Greenwich, will address public authorities from across Kent on the key findings of Metro's 2009 report "Branching Out - Kent and Medway Needs Assessment."
 
This report has assessed the needs and experiences of Kent's LGBT people, and those questioning their sexuality and/or gender. Dr Usher's address will help public services coordinate a multi-agency approach in order to take forward the report's key recommendations.
 
On February 26, the force will be hosting an event for the public at the Kent Police College called Recognising Homophopic and Transphobic Hate Crime and Incidents.  This event will also bring together Kent public service providers and people from Kent's LGBT communities to discuss the different approaches to dealing with homophobic and transphobic crime. The event will explore what needs to be done to encourage reporting and to support victims.
 
Martin Meredith, Kent Police's diversity manager, said:
"Hate crime is unacceptable. It does not just take the form of harrassment and verbal threats. Hate crime can be violent. Last October trainee police officer James Parkes was attacked in Liverpool and a lesbian couple in Brighton were also attacked. Sadly the violence can be fatal, such as the murders of Gerry Edwards in Bromley last March and Ian Baynham in central London in September.
 
"Kent Police helped set up the free Kent Homophobic and Transphobic Incident Reporting Line, which is available 24 hours a day and manned by call handlers trained to deal with sensitive incidents."
 
The Kent Homophobic and Transphobic Incident Reporting Line, is available 24 hours a day, all year round and call handlers are trained to deal with sensitive incidents. The helpline's number is 0800 328 9162.

For more information about LGBT History Month view:
www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk

For more information about Kent police view:
www.kent.police.uk