REPORT GAY DOMESTIC ABUSE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Inspector Mark Parish, head of Leicestershire Police's domestic violence investigation unit

Report gay domestic abuse

by Ciaran Fagan

Police have launched a campaign to encourage gay people to come forward if they are being abused by their partners.

The drive was launched yesterday as police believe the crime is particularly under-reported.

Posters which bear the message "Domestic abuse doesn't discriminate – and nor do we" are being distributed across Leicestershire.

In 2011-12, the force investigated 81 reports of domestic crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people – a small fraction of the 17,000-plus offences reported to the force in the past year.

Also, a survey carried out at Leicester Pride two years ago found that 46 per cent of those questioned had experienced some form of domestic violence.

Detective Inspector Mark Parish, who leads the force's domestic abuse investigation unit, said: "When you compare surveys of people's experience with recorded crime, it is clear members of the LGBT communities are under-reporting domestic abuse.

"There are likely to be two main reasons for this.

"The first is they may not recognise the signs of abuse, and what help there is available.

"The second is that, historically, there has been distrust between police and LGBT communities. However, things have changed. You can have confidence Leicestershire Police will listen to your issues and carry out a professional investigation without discrimination."

The campaign is being supported by domestic violence organisations and Leicester's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Centre in Wellington Street, in the city centre. It was launched yesterday at the Rainbow and Dove pub, a gay venue.

Paula Harris, co-chairman for the LGBT Community Safety Forum, said: "It is great to see police are taking this matter seriously.

"Hopefully, these posters will raise people's awareness that domestic abuse can and does happen in any type of relationship and it is not just about physical violence. I would urge anyone living in an abusive relationship to report it."

Meena Kumari, manager of domestic violence support service Safe Leicester, said: "Safe takes domestic abuse seriously.

"This is a real under-reported crime and would like to help the community gain the level of support they are entitled to."

LEICESTERSHIRE GIRL SAVED FROM FORCED MARRIAGE AS POLICE SECURE PROTECTION ORDER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicestershire girl saved from forced marriage as police secure protection order

Detectives have secured a groundbreaking court order against the family of a teenage girl who was tricked into going abroad and forced to marry a stranger.

The 16-year-old, from Loughborough, sought help from the police after she was taken to Bangladesh in November.

Officers said she was told she was going to a family wedding – but found it was to be her own.

Family members threatened to abandon her in Bangladesh if she refused to marry the older man they had chosen.

Officers said the youngster, who is not being named, contacted police on her return when her family tried to make her sign papers that would allow her husband to move here.

The police went to Leicestershire County Court within two days of her complaint to secure the force's first Forced Marriage Protection Order.

They put the girl in safe accommodation in a location unknown to her family and used the order to seize her passport so she cannot be removed from the country.

Every member of her family has been banned from harassing her for two years. If they breach the order, they could face up to two years in jail.

Detective Constable Keeley Mansell said details had been released in the hope those in similar situations would seek help.

Det Con Mansell said: "Many people are not aware this legislation exists or that we can use it even after someone has been forced to marry. Here, we have been able to use it to protect a vulnerable girl.

"If anyone is experiencing a similar situation, we will do everything we can to help."

Sgt Kev Wright, from the police's domestic abuse team, said: "Consent is essential to all marriages.

"The new legislation gives individuals – female and male – who find themselves being forced into a marriage a way to protect themselves and their future without criminalising their family."

Det Con Mansell, Sgt Wright and colleague Det Con Clare Hill all received a Chief Constables Certificate of Service Excellence this week for their work.

The police's domestic abuse investigation officer can be contacted on 0116 222 2222, extension 4022.