Third Party Reporting to the MPS

Report: 5
Date: 8 December 2011
By: Commander on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report summarises the brief history of third party reporting within the MPS and its response to the recommendations made during the Macpherson report.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. As the name suggests a third party report, or non police reporting, is a report that is made using any other method other than reporting directly to the police. This includes the use of reporting packs. Typically a victim will want to report an incident or series of events but may not feel comfortable approaching the Police directly. In this case they may seek alternative methods of reporting.

2. The method and location of reporting may depend on a number of issues including type of community location, availability, accessibility, facilities available, cultural, faith and language issues, trust in the police or other services as well as a number of other factors that may determine how comfortable a victim will feel when coming forward to report.

3. Third party reporting is based on the assumption that some victims are less inclined to report incidents to the police than to another agency - possibly because of a lack of trust and confidence in the police, the fear of reprisals from perpetrators if the police get involved, a feeling that the incident is not serious enough for police action, or simply because police stations are not seen as nice places to go to.

4. ‘Third party’ (or assisted reporting) originally arose out of the Inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence on 22 April 1993. A detailed report into his murder and associated matters was written by Sir William Macpherson. From this report a number of recommendations were made for a number of agencies including the police. The main recommendation in relation to this report is recommendation 16;

5. Recommendation 16.
That all possible steps should be taken by Police Services at local level in consultation with local Government and other agencies and local communities to encourage the reporting of racist incidents and crimes. This should include:

• the ability to report at locations other than police stations; and
• the ability to report 24 hours a day.

6. Although the Macpherson recommendations relate specifically to racist incidents and crimes, organisations which deal with all aspects of hate crime as well as Domestic Violence and sexual offences have grown to deal with third party reports and provide support to victims.

7. The importance of Third Party Reporting cannot be understated, as without it, a number of crimes and incidents would go unreported to police. Most third party reporting organisations also either provide additional support to the victim or can assist the victim to get support from other agencies if necessary.

The benefits of Third Party Reporting include:

• Improved victim confidence
• Victims encouraged to report crime
• Identification of appropriate support organisations to help victims (if necessary)
• A more accurate picture of Hate Crime can be drawn, enabling police and other partners to respond more effectively through intelligence-led and proactive policing.

8. Numerous third party reporting schemes have been established across the UK involving a vast investment of resources from the public and voluntary sectors. However, there has to date been a lack of evaluation of the effectiveness of schemes and little sharing of good practice. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some schemes are working successfully while disappointing numbers of reports are made to other third party reporting centres.

9. The very limited evidence that there is about the success of third party reporting schemes suggests some very mixed outcomes. The MPA itself in its ‘London Race Hate Crime Forum - Annual report 2007 - 2008’ stated that "Third Party reporting does not appear to be working effectively and current systems do not appear to be cost effective." (Page 5 of Report)

10. The report further concluded that: Having completed the Race Hate Crime Forum (RHCF) initial scrutiny of all London, it has been apparent that most boroughs have struggled to implement effective Third Party reporting schemes, and indeed, many boroughs had openly acknowledged serious difficulties with current Third Party reporting schemes on their borough. This also reflects feedback from many voluntary agencies that have attended RHCF meetings as part of the community participation at RHCF meetings. It is clear from borough presentations received during this year that many existing Third Party reporting schemes remain ineffective. (Page 13 of report)

11. The research conducted on Third Party Reporting by the RHCF is summarised at Appendix 3 of that report (London Race Hate Crime Forum - Annual report 2007 - 2008). The RHCF subsequently evolved into the ‘Hate Crime Forum’, and dealt with all aspects of hate crime.

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Response

12. The MPS responded to the Macpherson Report recommendations by the promotion of third party reporting mechanisms both on a borough level and strategically by the Diversity Directorate. This responsibility subsequently passed to the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate.

13. In 2008 with the formation of the Violent Crime Directorate, within Territorial Policing (TP), responsibility for Third party reporting was passed to individual boroughs as it was believed that the partnership leads would have better access to partners, and have a better understanding of the local community, especially through the links with safer Neighbourhood Teams.

14. Reference to third party reporting was included within the ‘MPS Equalities scheme 2006 - 2010’;

Objective C8;

To ensure the opportunities for people to report crime through ‘Third Party’, Assisted or Online arrangements are accessible and relevant to people’s needs. With the outcome being ‘to ensure all Londoners can make use of accessible and effective crime recording processes.

15. There are three methods to report a non-emergency hate crime on-line in the MPS:

The MPS on-line reporting website: https://online.met.police.uk/
The True Vision website: http://report-it.org.uk/home
The 101 ‘Non emergency’ number

16. The True Vision website is DDA compliant and can be viewed in various text sizes and in different contrast/colours. Both sites enable a third party to report an incident on behalf of a victim.

17. There is also the non-emergency ‘101’ number, which is part of a national programme to improve access to the police and will give the public one easy way to get in touch with the police for calls that do not require an urgent response. For people who speak no or little English they can also dial 101 where their call will be connected with an interpreter. Callers, who are deaf, deafened or have a hearing or speech impairment can use a textphone to call: (18001 101).

18. The MPS centrally, has no involvement in providing training for third party reporting sites, but if required would be willing to assist in training where required.

19. For the reporting of sexual offences the three London Havens provide support, advice and medical treat to victims of sexual assault. They have mechanisms in place that allow victims of sexual offences to ‘self refer’ and remain anonymous whilst depersonalised data and samples to be passed to police and analysed for intelligence purposes. This service is independent of police and supports victims who may not have otherwise engaged with Police. Intelligence received helps identify dangerous offenders who may have been undetected. Victims also have the option of visiting a ‘SOIT clinic’ to speak to a police officer and receive advice.

20. Although independent, the Havens are jointly funded by the MPS and the NHS and the cost of running all the services at the 3 London Haven totals is £4.33 million, of which the MPS funds half, totaling £2.165 million. The first Haven opened in London in 2000.

21. The Equalities scheme report in 2009 led to a review of third party reporting sites within London in June 2009 commissioned by Commander TP, whereby all boroughs were asked to reply to a number of questions relating to third party reporting sites within their respective areas. These questions were also sent to local authority hate crime coordinators through the MPA Hate Crime Coordinators meetings. From the responses, it was clear that some boroughs had apparently good systems and process in place to deal with third party reporting and others had no third party reporting sites within the borough. This review also highlighted a number of boroughs who had employed the services of an organisation called ‘Stop Hate UK’, which provided a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week service to victims of all strands of hate crime.

22. A feasibility exercise was conducted to establish, whether ‘Stop Hate UK’ could supply such a service to the whole of London. It already provided the service to eight London boroughs and funding was secured centrally to supply the service to the remaining 24 boroughs for a 1 year period, but the funding was dependant on the service being commissioned by 31 March 2011.

23. Due to the time constraints imposed, a ‘user group’ meeting was arranged at City Hall to discuss the implementation of ‘Stop hate UK’ across the MPS. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss with service users and other organisations that support victims of all hate crimes how the process would have been implemented and what impact this would have had on London.

24. However, prior to this meeting concerns were raised by a number of organisations regarding the implementation of ‘Stop Hate UK’, and as the pressure to commission the service by 31 March 2011 was no longer present, a decision was made to cancel the meeting at City Hall in order to gain a better understanding of Hate Crime in London and options for reporting it to and accessing the police. (This work is still ongoing in partnership with the MPA through the Hate Crime Coordinators group and Hate crime forum.)

25. Stop hate UK currently operate in 9 London boroughs and are funded by either the local Authority or local borough. The average cost (per borough) for their services for a year is £4,000. The cost for providing third party reporting for the remaining 24 boroughs (only 8 were commissioned at time of the proposal) for the 2011 - 2012 financial year was £110,000. An EIA was started but never completed due to the halting of the proposal.

MPS Mechanisms of Third Party or Assisted Reporting

26. Over the years all boroughs have been engaged in third party reporting launches and support activity of one sort or another. The Diversity Directorate and subsequently DCFD have assisted many boroughs through advice and of supporting organisations i.e. Galop. Various materials have been produced at cost to the MPS for promotion at various community events (e.g. ‘report hate crime’ etc.)

27. The reviews of third parting reporting sites and process within the MPS identified that they are almost exclusively led by the local authorities and third sector organisations. Police have a supporting role; with no third party reporting mechanism but the MPS does have its own ‘online crime / incident reporting’ site via the MPS Internet;
https://online.met.police.uk/

28. The MPS has the capability for people to report hate crimes using this on line reporting mechanism. On completion of the reports an electronic form is e-mailed to the MPS contact desk, the details are reviewed to ensure that a deployment is not required and then the form is forwarded to the relevant borough so the incident can be formally recorded and investigated.

29. Within the MPS website, the vast majority of MPS boroughs have links to third party reporting sites for their respective boroughs, which will invariably link to the local authority sites. A number also have contact details or third sector organisations within the borough that can be contacted. The majority of these sites have an on-line form reporting facility or telephone contact/drop in services during office hours. The MPS has a number of ‘Pan’ London third party reporting and support organisations listed on its internet site. (See appendix 1)

30. The MPS also acts as the secure portal for the True Vision website. When a True Vision report is submitted, it is received by the MPS data system and then automatically transferred to the relevant policing areas

www.report-it.org.uk

31. True Vision is a third party hate crime reporting website supported by all Police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. True Vision provides information for victims and the public about what hate crime is, why it is important to report it when it happens, and sets out the range of ways hate crime can be reported, including via an online reporting form. The site also provides links to organisations that can offer support and advice on hate crime related issues. These online systems also enable people to notify police on behalf of another person.

32. Recently the MPS has also launched the non-emergency ‘101’ number, which is part of a national programme to improve access and will give the public one easy way to get in touch with the police for calls that do not require an urgent response, i.e. to report a crime that has already happened, seek crime prevention advice or make us aware of local policing issues. The number is being introduced to improve access to the police and ease pressure on the 999 system.

33. As with 999 calls, calls to 101 in London will be handled 24 hours a day, seven days a week by specially trained officers and staff at the Central Communications Command who will help deal with enquiries. For people who speak no or little English they can also dial 101 where their call will be connected with an interpreter. Callers, who are deaf, deafened or have a hearing or speech impairment can use a textphone to call: (18001 101).

Third Party or Assisted Reports

34. From a police perspective, the MPS using the CRIS system can identify whether a crime or incident was reported by means of a third part by using a ‘flag’ (TP). However this has proved unreliable and inaccurate as it has to be entered manually by the imputer and is not widely known. Another method of recording how the police were contacted exists on the CRIS system. There is an option to select ‘3rd Party Report’ in the ‘How Police Notified’ field, and this is more widely used than the ‘TP’ flag.

35. A search of the CRIS system was conducted for the period 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2011 (12 months). In this period there were 282 hate crime reports in the MPS where police were notified by a 3rd Party Report, by e-mail or by Internet Reporting. There were;

• 75 reports recorded as being notified by 3rd part report
• 90 by e-mail and
• 117 by internet reporting

36. These reports relate to Incidents, Offences, Transfer out of MPS and No/Non Crimes, and there would have been investigated as appropriate.

37. Since February 2010, the Crime and Customer Strategy Command (formally the CSU Service delivery team) took responsibility from the Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate for receiving Galop third party reports. Any Third Party Reports made to Galop are passed direct to SPOCS within the unit and Crime or intelligence reports are created dependant on the nature of the report. To date 66 reports have been submitted to the MPS from Galop.

38. All reports taken are either recorded as intelligence on the CRIMINT system or recorded on the Cris system as a crime and investigated. If the intelligence is ‘actionable’ (relates to a series of unreported crimes in a particular location, i.e. robberies within a Public Sex Environment), the information is allocated as appropriate. If anonymous, every effort is taken to request the organisation that took the report to get the victim to speak to police.

Hate Crime Research and Third Party Reporting

39. The MPS has not conducted a formal consultation process with community members regarding third party reporting. However, a number of organisations have conducted research into Third Party Reporting and have concluded that some members of the community would prefer to report hate crimes in particular to other agencies rather than approaching police direct. These reports include;

Galop - Filling in the Blanks

40. Around half of all callers to LGBT organisations did not report their experiences to the police, because of lack of confidence in the police, or because they feared the consequences of reporting to them, such as reprisals. Significant proportions of victims, however, make contact with LGBT organisations after already reporting to the police or other statutory service, because they want further help or advice.

Stonewall - Homophobic Hate Crime (The gay British crime survey 2008)

41. One in five lesbian and gay people in Britain have been a victim of one or more homophobic hate crimes or incidents in the last three years and one in eight have been a victim in the last year. Three in four of these did not report them to the police and only six per cent reported them to third parties. These incidents ranged from regular insults on the street to serious physical and sexual assaults.

Scope’ Discrimination Survey (May 2011)

42. The majority of disabled people experience discrimination at least once a week – if not on a daily basis - and disabled people feel that public attitudes towards them have got worse over the past year.

• More than half of disabled people say they have experienced hostility, aggression or violence from a stranger because of their condition or impairment (56%)
• Half of disabled people say they experience discrimination on either a daily or weekly basis
• More than a third (37%) said people’s attitudes towards them have got worse over the past year.

Harrow Community Confidence Road show (2009 - 2010)

43. Research was recently conducted within Harrow which amongst other things looked at ‘confidence in reporting hate crime and community tension’.1001 people were spoken to and in relation to Hate Crime, 48% of respondents that had been victims of hate crime had not reported it. When asked what the barriers to reporting were;

33% felt that their report would not be taken seriously,
23% didn’t want to get involved
11% thought the issues was minor and not serious,
9% felt fear and embarrassment,
7% felt that it was a long time ago and
7% felt that they did not trust the police.
5% felt that it was part of life
4% scared of repercussions and
2% took actions themselves

44. Many victims said that they would not report ‘low level’ or ‘trivial’ incidents as verbal abuse as they felt that they would not be taken seriously and there would be a lack of action. Respondents also stated that they would wait to see if a situation would escalate before making an official report.

Islamaphobia research by BMG - Understanding Islamophobia experiences - qualitative research with Muslims

45. Officers from the Crime and Customer Strategy Command (CCSC) are assisting in research into Islamaphobic incidents being conducted by the ‘diversity and citizen focus directorate’ and ‘the Muslim safety forum’.

46. As part of this project, the MPS commissioned focus group research with Muslim community members to provide information their on-going work to understand the nature and context of Islamophobic and anti-Muslim incidents experienced by the Muslim community.

47. This research showed that there is a widespread perception that Islamophobic incidents are under-reported, and some surprise expressed by respondents that the Metropolitan Police takes an active interest in the issue. The research also showed that the extent to which incidents are reported varies for a number of reasons – the severity of the incident, and the extent to which the victim thinks the police can or will do something about it (which in turn depends on whether there is evidence of identity, and the victim’s general attitude to the police).

48. Another critical issue around reporting was raised in several groups, but notably in the older men’s group in Tower Hamlets. In a discussion around barriers to reporting the group identified a number of subtle cultural barriers, particularly for Muslim people who had either not grown up in the UK, or whose English was not good (or who were not confident in expressing themselves in English). This could result in several issues:

• A lack of confidence to approach the police, because the process and institutions were daunting in a cultural sense;
• A lack of confidence which reflected a lack of confidence in expressing themselves in English, even amongst those whose English was fine for many other situations. (In other words the issue is around confidence rather than fundamental language competence.)
• An actual, functional limitation on the ability to communicate in English, especially about issues which are difficult, conceptually or emotionally.

49. The older women’s group noted that there was ‘no guidance from religion’ about whether to report incidents and crimes. Many people across the group expressed in some way or another, a reluctance simply to approach the front desk on a police station to report an incident.

50. There are obviously a number of factors from this research that would support the need for third party reporting; concerns about language and cultural understanding; a fear about being ‘seen’ to report, and the repercussions that may bring. The young males group expressed a strong preference for reporting by phone, citing all sorts of potential barriers to reporting in person – having to take children when that may not be appropriate, who else might be there at the same time, and also the ‘hassle’ and the time it takes.

51. The younger women raised another series of issues around emotional support, and about the way in which a difficult situation is handled. They ‘don’t just want a number’ but expressed a wish to be able to speak to someone away from the counter, to be reassured that they were doing the right thing, and that the police viewed such incidents as serious.

52. All these reports clearly show that hate crime in particularly is widely under reported and indicates a need for the community to report crime and get support initially away from the police.

Wider communities

53. Although there are a number of support organisations for more established community groups, it is clear that there are not as many that provide support, advice or third party or assisted reporting for those communities who may have been previously disengaged. Examples of some of those communities include:

• Economic migrants and Eastern Europeans
• Asylum Seekers and Refugees
• Gypsies and Travellers

The Future

54. There are already a number of well established organisations in existence that provide third party mechanisms, support and advice for their own community groups, although other than by email, this support is not always 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

55. The main challenge therefore for the MPS is how it strives to meet Recommendation 16, not just for Racist incidents but for all strands of hate and other crime, when it does not lead on the provision of third party reporting for London.

56. Whilst the MPS would like to have a pan London, multi strand organisation which is accessible to all through various communication methods, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, other groups feel that this approach is not appropriate and does not necessarily meet the needs of the caller, who would want to speak to an ‘expert’ trained to support the caller in their on area of diversity when they call. Until a full scoping exercise is carried out and a full review of services in London is conducted, we will not truly know the answer to this question.

Conclusion

57. The MPS is aware that under-reporting of hate crime remains a significant issue, and we are resolutely committed to tackling all forms and categories of these offences, and we are always seeking ways to increase reporting. We recognise that the under-reporting of hate crime represents missed opportunities to:

• to keep victims safe or otherwise support them,
• to identify and tackle repeat perpetrators and
• to identify and police hate crime hotspots,

58. It is clear that there is a significant challenge in providing a Pan London service which is accessible to all, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week which covers all strands of hate crime.

59. The Equality Human Rights commission report ‘Police and Racism: What has been achieved 10 years after the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report?’ states in its recommendations:

Being able to report racist incidents to a greater variety of organisations has encouraged more victims to come forward. A national 24-hour helpline to report racist incidents was one of the recommendations made by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report. A nationwide scheme would help increase the number of reported race crimes. Experience shows that many victims are unwilling to go to the police, or fail to report incidents if they cannot speak to someone immediately.

Stop Hate UK provides a 24-hour telephone helpline in Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Hull, Rotherham, Oldham, Merseyside, Wolverhampton, Derbyshire, Peterborough, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and London Borough of Havering. It is hoped that it will soon be commissioned by other areas. Callers receive immediate support and the ability to report to an independent organisation. The Commission would strongly welcome steps to expand this provision to a fully national service of local response.

The Commission will now be working with the police and associated agencies promoting these recommendations and seeing them coming to fruition. We know that for many in the police, they are a willing partner for change and we applaud that.

60. It is clear that the whole of London does not currently have a pan London mechanism in place to allow its population and visitors access to third party reporting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week covering all strands of diversity and accessibility. Until it does we will not truly achieve Recommendation 16 of the Macpherson Report.

C. Other organisational & community implications

Equality and Diversity Impact

1. This report predominately relates to communities who are likely to be targeted and become victims of hate crime due to their actual or perceived, Race; Religion or Belief; Sexual orientation; Gender identify or Disability, and therefore members of those communities will be more widely effected by the contents of this report.

2. The issue of Third party reporting has been around for many years and is predominately managed by local authorities and charities/support organisations.

3. The MPS is mindful of any adverse impact or disproportionality that may occur as a result of the delivery of its services and fully embraces the need to engage with and consult with the communities and their representatives.

Consideration of Met Forward

Met Partners

4. The role of the specialist investigators within the community safety units (CSU’s) supports the work of ‘Met Partners’, as officers are trained and deal with on a daily basis, offences of domestic violence, hate crime, safeguarding adults at risk and so called ‘honour based violence’. CSU officers work closely with key strategic partners to reduce risk to victims of crime, reduce criminality and increase confidence in policing.

Met Connect

5. The MPS is committed to delivering quality customer service and improved user satisfaction through its number of trained specialist units which deal with specialist types of criminality on a daily basis (CSU - Hate Crime, SCD2 - Rape and serious sexual offences, etc), and continued engagement with key strategic partners (MPA, GLA, Galop, CST, etc.)

6. We are also looking at improving accessibility to police services through the hosting of the ‘true vision’ internet portal (nationally) and the recent launch of the 101 ‘non - emergency’ number. We look to engage with the community at every opportunity through Safer Neighbourhoods Panels and Community and Police Engagement Groups (CPEGs), as well as consultation with Key partners through the MPA hate crime forum and Domestic and Sexual Violence Board. (DSVB).

Financial Implications

7. The main financial implications relating to this report are covered in paragraphs 20 and 25. The contribution to the cost of the 3 London Havens (£2,165 million) is met from SCD’s budget. The cost of Stop Hate UK which currently operates in 9 London Boroughs is primarily funded by Local Authorities with any MPS contribution being met from local Borough budgets in Territorial Policing. Any new developments would be subject to the Service’s budgeting and business planning processes.

Legal Implications

8. As a public authority, the MPA is currently required to take action to tackle discrimination, to prevent harassment, and to promote equality of opportunity in all its functions in relation to race, disability and gender.

9. On 8 April 2010, the Equality Act 2010 received Royal Assent. The Act sets out a general duty requiring those subject to the duty to have regard to the need to:

• eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
• advance equality of opportunity between different groups; and
• foster good relations between different groups.

Environmental Implications

10. There are no known environmental implications relating to this report

Risk (including Health and Safety) Implications

11. There is clearly a potential risk in not having an adequate third party reporting system in place which is available and accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, as potentially victims of hate crime, sexual and domestic violence would not be identified and could be at risk of significant harm.

D. Background papers

1. Galop - Filling in the Blanks
2. Stonewall - Homophobic Hate Crime (The gay British crime survey 2008)
3. Scope Discrimination survey (15th May 2011)
4. Islamaphobia research by BMG - Understanding Islamophobia experiences qualitative research with Muslims
5. Race Hate Crime Forum annual report 2007 - 2008
6. MPS Equalities scheme 2006 - 2010

E. Contact details

Report author: DI Jim Foley, Community Safety Unit, Crime and Customer Strategy Command, MPS

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1

MPS listed support organisations.

The MPS website has links to a number of support organisations and organisations listed, some of which take Third Party Reports.

General

Victim Support

Victim Support gives free and confidential help to victims of crime, their family, friends and anyone else affected.

Crime stoppers

Independent charity helping to find criminals and help solve crimes. They have an anonymous phone number 0800 555 111 that people can call to pass on information about crime; alternatively people can send information anonymously via this website.

Hate Crime

Metropolitan Police Authority (Hate Crime Forum)
The MPA established the London Race Hate Crime Forum in response to the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report in February 1999, referring to gaps in cooperation, sharing of information and learning between the agencies responsible for dealing with hate crime.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Launched on 1 October 2007, their role is to:

• ensure people are aware of their rights and how to use them
• work with employers, service providers and organisations to help them develop best practice
• work with policymakers, lawyers and the Government to make sure that social policy and the law promote equality and
• use our powers to enforce the laws that are already in place.

Stop Hate UK

Stop Hate UK is a national charity that provides independent and confidential support to people affected by Hate Crime.

The Community Security Trust

CST believes that the fight against antisemitism and terrorism is an integral part of safeguarding our wider democratic British society against extremism and hatred.

The Muslim Safety Forum

The Muslim Safety Forum is a key advisory body for the Metropolitan Police Service, Association of Chief Police Officers and British Transport Police on issues concerning British Muslims.

Internet Watch Foundation

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) provides the UK internet Hotline for the public to report criminal online content in a secure and confidential way. The IWF works in partnership with the online industry, law enforcement, government, and international partners to minimise the availability of child sexual abuse images hosted anywhere in the world and criminally obscene adult content and incitement to racial hatred content hosted in the UK.

LGBT Organisations

Age Concern

The UK's largest charity working with and for older people. Age concern have a comprehensive list of resources and links for older LGBT people and also runs "opening Doors" project, an older LGBT support group.

Albert Kennedy Trust

Supports LGBT homeless young people in crisis, also deal with teenagers facing formed marriage due to their sexuality or gender.

Broken Rainbow

Support for LGBT people experiencing LGBT abuse. Tel: 0300 999 5428

Galop

Gives advice and support to LGBT people who have experienced homophobic or Transphobic violence, abuse or harassment, also assists callers dealing with Police, also a 3rd party reporting system. Tel: 020 7704 2040

Imaan

A social support group for LGBT Muslims, their families, friends and supporters and those questioning their sexuality or gender identity.

The Gender Trust

A registered charity which provides help and support to anyone with queries about all aspects of gender identity issues. Tel: 0845 231 0505

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

Aims to provide an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people and anyone who needs consider issues around their sexuality. (Monday-Friday 10am-6pm) Tel: 020 7837 7324

Stonewall

Advocacy Group working for the rights of LGBT people. Also a 3rd party reporting site. Tel: 020 7593 1850.

Stonewall Housing

Stonewall housing provides supported housing, advice and advocacy for LGBT people in London. Tel: 020 7359 5767

THT (Terrence Higgins Trust)

Whatever your sexuality, HIV Status, Gender, cultural background or ethnic origin, THT have a service to assist Tel: 020 7812 1600

Disability Organisations

Ann Craft Trust
Tel 0115 951 5400
Website: www.anncrafttrust.org
The Ann Craft Trust works with staff in the statutory, independent and voluntary sectors to protect people with Learning disabilities who may be at risk from abuse. They also provide advice and information to parents and carers who may have concerns about someone they are supporting.

Mencap
Tel 0207 454 0454
Website: www.mencap.org.uk
Mencap is the UK’S leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.

Leonard Cheshire
Tel 0203 242 0200
Website: www.lcdisability.org
Leonard Cheshire is the UK’s leading provider of disability support services and campaigns on the rights of disabled people. Services include supported living, care at home, residential care, rehabilitation, resource centres and training and employment programmes.

Respond
Tel 0207 383 0700
Website: www.respond.org.uk
Respond offers a range of services which provide emotional and psychological support to victims and perpetrators of abuse who have learning disabilities. Respond also provides training and support to professionals and carers.

RNIB
Tel 0303 1223 9999
Website: www.rnib.org.uk
RNIB offers information, support and advice to people with sight problems.

RNID
Tel 0207 296 8000
Website: www.rnid.org.uk
RNID is the largest charity providing support, services and advice to deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the UK.

Voice UK
Tel 0808 802 686
Website: www.voiceuk.org.uk
Voice UK supports people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable groups who have experienced crime or abuse and offers support to families, carers and professional workers.

Domestic and Honour based Violence organisations

Mayor of London Domestic Violence Strategy

The Mayor published the final version of The Way Forward, his strategy to end violence against women on 8 March 2010

Metropolitan Police Authority (Domestic and Sexual violence Board)

The MPA Domestic and Sexual Violence Board was set up to monitor, scrutinise and support the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in its performance and response to domestic and sexual violence.

Refuge

Refuge's network of safe houses provides emergency accommodation for women and children when they are most in need.

Women's Aid

Women's Aid is the national domestic violence charity which co-ordinates and supports an England-wide network of over 300 local projects, providing over 500 refuges, helplines, outreach services and advice centres.

National Domestic Violence Helpline

0808 2000 247, run in partnership between Refuge and Women's Aid.

Broken Rainbow

If you experience same-sex, homophobic or transphobic domestic violence and need support and information, call the Broken Rainbow Helpline Service on 020 8539 9507 (9am-1pm, 2-5pm, Mon-Fri).

Respect

Are you worried about your behaviour towards your partner? If you have been abusive or violent call the Respect phone line on 0845 122 8609.

The Havens

The Havens, alternatively known as Sexual Assault Referral Centres, have been set up as a joint initiative by the MPS and Department of Health to ensure that victims of rape and sexual assault get the help they need.

Ashiana Project

Are a charitable organisation based in London, to help women from the Asian, Turkish & Iranian community.

Forward UK

FORWARD is an African Diaspora led UK-registered campaign and support charity dedicated to advancing and safeguarding the health and rights of African girls and women, in particular female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced and child marriage.

Southall Black Sisters

Southall Black Sisters, a not-for-profit organisation, was established in 1979 to meet the needs of black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women.

Iranian & Kurdish Womens Rights Organisation

IKWRO is a registered charity founded in 2002. We provide advice, support, advocacy and referral in Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, Dari and Farsi to women, girls and couples living in Britain, in particular helping women facing domestic violence, forced marriage and 'honour'-based violence.

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