LGB&T Liaison Officers Now Available Force-Wide To Support Victims Of Crime

Dyfed-Powys Police takes pride in knowing that there are now 22 Police Officers and PCSOs trained to provide specialist support to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) victims of crime across our Force-area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All are fresh out of their intensive week-long training programme, having volunteered for the role, which is in addition to their day-to-day jobs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking about the importance of these roles to Dyfed-Powys Police, T/Assistant Chief Constable Pam Kelly said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our aim in introducing the LGB&T Liaison Officers is to provide a level of care to victims, which is adapted to suit their needs. We also hope that it sends to strong message to LGB&T communities that incidents of hate will not be tolerated here. No one should be subjected to torment and violence, because of who they are.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Liaison Officers will also provide specialist advice and support to investigative teams when dealing with sometimes very complex issues and are now working out of stations right across the four counties we police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cairn Newton-Evans, an Inspector with our Special Constabulary (volunteer Police Officers), was inspired to give some of his spare time to Dyfed-Powys Police and his community, after he became the victim of a harrowing homophobic assault back in 2008, aged just 17. He felt that the understanding and support for those who were targeted because of their sexuality was lacking and its impact on the individual not understood. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cairn, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Every contact counts with a victim and we should never underestimate the impact a crime or an incident can have on an individual, their family, friends and the wider community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Through the launch of the LGB&T Liaison Officers, we can show that we are a police service that learns from the past, adapts and changes to meet the needs of the communities that we serve.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A number of external agencies participated in the delivery of the team’s training, including New Pathways, Broken Rainbow, Stonewall Cymru and Umbrella Gwent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nick Lewis of ‘Umbrella Gwent’, specialists in gender and sexual diversity, commented on the Force’s commitment to enhancing the service it gives to victim of crime: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s fantastic to see Dyfed-Powys Police’s commitment to enhancing much needed support services. It was a privilege to be part of a fantastic week of gender and sexual diversity training and, to meet such a great group of officers and staff. I have no doubt that the LGB&T Liaison Officers will add an enhanced level of support and increase confidence in the police.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​