Seminar on the dissemination of good practices, London 23 April 2010
Engagement between police forces and LGBT organisations to tackle hate violence
The seminar was organised at the headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police Service (MET), in partnership with the MET.
It addressed the following aims:
- Present the outcomes of the research conducted in 2009 by ILGA-Europe in the field of relations between LGBT associations and the police;
- Present to various LGBT NGO and police organisations the first draft of the publication prepared by ILGA-Europe to facilitate the dissemination of the best practices identified during the research;
- Illustrate the contents of the research and of the publication through the presentation of some of the best European practices identified;
- Create and consolidate partnerships between NGOs, organisations of police officers, and police training institutions, as all of them have to collaborate to deliver efficient policies aiming at combating hate violence;
- Prepare the next steps of ILGA-Europe’s project “Working with the police and challenging hate crime in Europe”, which will include capacity building initiatives.
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1st Part: Homophobic and transphobic hate crime, an European overview
- The legal concept of hate crime – Allison Jernow, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ);
- Hate Crimes in the OSCE regions – Matilde Fruncillo, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Unit, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR/OSCE);
- Opinions and recommendations against homophobia – Matteo Bonini-Baraldi, The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA).
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2nd Part: ILGA-Europe’s project, “Working with the Police and Challenging Hate Crime in Europe: 2008-2011”
- A presentation of ILGA-Europe’s project – Joël Le Déroff, Policy & Programmes Officer, ILGA-Europe;
- Methodology and outcomes of ILGA-Europe’s research on best practices in Europe – Richard Polacek, project consultant ILGA-Europe.
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3rd Part: Towards comprehensive strategies against hate crimes: inspiring models
London:
- A monitoring and prevention strategy – Darren Williams, Detective Superintendent, Metropolitan Police Service, London;
- Dialogue between LGBT organisations and police forces: a learning process – Deborah Gold, Galop
A Bulgarian experience:
Scotland:
- National strategies and local practices, the evolving legal and practice environment for hate crime in today – Presentation by the Scottish police: Brenda Armstrong, National HR Diversity Co-ordinator, and Fiach OBroin-Molloy, Equalities Coordinator (Central Scotland Police).
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4th Part: The way forward: creating synergies and increasing capacities to better tackle hate crime
Comments by police organisations and open discussion:
- Mr Marcin Wydra, Plenipotentiary of the Head of Police for Human Rights, Poland;
- the European Council of Police Trade Unions (CESP) – Statement communicated by Gerard Greneron, Secretary General,
- Mr Peter Wakerly, on behalf of the European Gay Police Association (EGPA).


