Southwark

Southwark Anti-Homophobia Forum
Dax Ashworth
Sahf_southwark@yahoo.co.uk

Every crime has a bad effect on the victim but hate crimes are probably the most damaging. They happen when a person hates someone else enough to abuse them, attack them or commit some other offence against them.

Sometimes the crime happens in what should be the peace and safety of your own home and the violence or other abuse comes from someone you know well. Sometimes it happens because someone, a complete stranger to you, doesn't like anyone who is different to them. A different skin colour, a different race, a different religion, a different sexual orientation.

Whatever the cause, it hurts - not just physically but in other ways too. And its effects - fear, outrage, anger - can be felt throughout a community. Every crime is senseless but hate crimes are probably the most senseless - because they come from prejudice and ignorance.

The Metropolitan Police make tackling hate crimes a priority. To us, you are different, because you are an individual. And every case of hate crime is different and needs to be investigated and dealt with in the right and most effective way. That's why we've set up new units in every area in London - Community Safety Units - with dedicated staff who receive special training in community relations, including local cultural issues.

We don't pretend that our service will make up for the pain and suffering you've gone through, but the officers working in these new units will do all they can to help you deal with what's happened to you.

If you are in Southwark your local Community Safety Unit is at:

Walworth Police Station
12-28 Manor Place
London
SE17 3LR

You can contact the Community Safety Unit by phone on: 020 7232 6237/6160/6218
Between 8am and 8pm.

NRG Youth Services
Under 16's welcome / Full disability access . Services for LGB and questioning young people across London: social meetings, events, info and advice, plus counseling, life coaching and mentoring: NRG KR in Twickenham and NRG Central in Waterloo.