Thurrock police are urging more people to report homophobic incidents as it paves the way in stamping out hate crime in the community.

The division forms part of the Thames Corridor Focus Panel (TCFP), which also consists of Basildon, Rayleigh and Southend police, their partner agencies and the voluntary sector.

The TCFP is leading the way in Essex in tackling incidents related to a person's race, sexuality or disability through its initiative, 'Hate Crime - Menace In Society', launched earlier this year.

In the last 12 months there have been just eight recorded homophobic incidents in Thurrock, a figure which the division's Homophobic Incident Liaison Officer, Sgt Nick Morris, believes could be misleading.

Sgt Morris said: "We are pleased with this very low level of incidents.

"However, we are aware that there may be under reporting.

"This may be for a variety of reasons - privacy, distrust of the police, or not believing the incident is serious enough."

A homophobic incident is any perceived to be homophobic by the victim or any other person.

The TCFP panel for homophobic incidents aims to:

Increase reporting of incidents

Ensure a consistent and effective response to incidents

Raise public awareness

Break down actual and perceived barriers.

These aims are pursued through a number of ways, including gaining confidence of potential witnesses, providing a good support and advice network and working closely with the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered community.

Sgt Morris said that Thurrock police take all forms of hate crime extremely seriously, and asked that victims of homophobic crime come forward to report it.

He said: "Thurrock police cannot address a problem unless we are aware of it."

"If the victims do not want to attend their local police station, they can contact me on 01375 391212."

Published Thursday December 27, 2001