Victoria Police - Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs)

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http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=741

Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs)

Release date: Thu 26 July 2007

Last updated: Mon 23 March 2009

The state of Victoria has a diverse population representing many cultures, religions and groups.  Victoria Police is committed to ensuring equality and fairness to the community it serves.  Victoria Police has an ongoing commitment to improving its relationship with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) communities and to addressing specific issues affecting the community.

Why Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers are needed

Victoria Police and the GLBTI community have a shared history.  Prior to 1981 when legislation decriminalised homosexuality, police were actively involved in the arrest of members of GLBTI communities.

This led to GLBTI communities feeling isolated and reluctant to trust police.  As such, many crimes against members of the GLBTI community went unreported.

While legislation decriminalised homosexuality in 1981, changes in attitudes came about slowly.

A significant change at Victoria Police occurred in 1990, when a part-time position for gay and lesbian liaison was introduced. Then, in 2000, Victoria Police appointed its first full-time Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO).

The development of the GLLO position description and subsequent appointment was facilitated by many members of the GLBTI community, through a Victoria Police/Equal Opportunity Commission working group.

This working group also produced a mission statement for Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison.

GLLO mission

The Gay and Lesbian Liaison mission is to contribute to the creation of mutual trust between police, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and intersex persons so they have increasing confidence in police through the provision of fair and equitable policing service.

How are GLLOs achieving their mission

    * A team of Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs), and a state coordinator were introduced in 2003. All received special training in dealing with GLBTI issues.
    * A Gay and Lesbian Liaison Reference Group has been formed and comprises a number of GLBTI representatives as well as police.  The group provides support, advice and recommendations to Victoria Police to ensure the organisation provides services which are effectively meeting the needs of GLBTI communities.
    * Victoria Police records all prejudice motivated crimes including crimes based on sexual or gender identity and also instances of family violence within same-sex relationships.  This enables GLLOs to make contact with police investigators and also victims to provide assistance and referrals.  The data also enables GLLOs to identify crime trends within and against GLBTI communities.

"A prejudice motivated crime is a criminal act which is motivated, at least in part, because of someone's bias or hatred of a person or group's perceived race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Prejudice motivated crimes not only harm the victim, but harm the victim's group and society as a whole, which is why Victoria Police takes prejudice motivated crime seriously."

    * GLLOs train other police on issues affecting GLBTI communities.  Issues such as homophobic/transphobic violence, family violence within same-sex relationships, beat management and the transgender/intersex search policy all form part of this training.
    * GLLOs develop joint crime prevention initiatives with local service providers within family violence support networks, same-sex attracted youth groups, as well as GLBTI community groups such as the Anti-Violence Project and Minus 18.

How Victoria Police GLLOs can assist you

There are GLLOs at various police stations throughout the state, however, any police member in Victoria is able to take a report of crime.  You can contact any police station to do this.  If the matter is urgent you should telephone '000'.

Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers are specially trained in GLBTI issues.  They have knowledge of GLBTI communities and are sensitive to the issues each community faces.  Issues such as:

    * Prejudice motivated crime
    * Same-sex relationship family violence
    * Stalking
    * Assaults
    * Sexual assaults
    * Abusive phone calls
    * Neighbourhood harassment
    * Beats
    * Drink spiking

Victoria Police GLLOs can assist by providing discrete, non judgemental advice and assistance in the reporting of crimes.

GLLOs do not actively investigate the crime.  By calling a GLLO, victims can discuss the incident then work out the most suitable process for the matter to be reported.  The GLLO can also provide expert advice and assistance to police investigators.

GLLOs have good knowledge of and links to many service providers within the GLBTI community.  GLLOs are able to make recommendations for appropriate support services.

Members of the GLBTI community, family or friends can contact a GLLO anonymously to discuss issues, obtain advice or advise of incidents occurring in the community.

A full list of GLLOs can be found in the download area on the right of this page.

Coming Forward survey

Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, part of the Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society at La Trobe University, is currently undertaking a research project into the issues of homophobic crime and abuse in same sex relationships.  If you have been the victim of either of these types of crimes and feel comfortable participating in an anonymous survey, then visit www.comingforwardsurvey.org.au.  The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and the outcomes will assist Victoria Police to tackle the issues of homophobic crimes and abuse in same sex relationships.

Preventing homophobic crime

Find tips about how to prevent homophobic crime by clicking on the link on the right side of this page.

Same-sex relationship family violence

Listen to a discussion broadcast on Joy fm discussing same-sex relationship family violence.


Contact us:

Sergeant Scott Davis
GLLO state coordinator
Telephone:  (03) 9247 6944

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希望能对Victoria的朋友有所帮助。