Website set up for homophobia victims

4:23pm Friday 16th May 2008

Victims of homophobic crimes are being encouraged to report incidents online.

Members of Oxfordshire's Homophobic Awareness Liaison Team (HALT) will be visiting venues in Oxford tonight to promote the website www.oxhalt.co.uk to mark the International Day Against Homophobia.

HALT created the site to encourage more people to report incidents of homophobia in Oxfordshire.

It is estimated around 80 per cent of homophobic hate crime is not reported.

The website provides details of the reporting options available to people, ranging from going directly to the police, to talking it over with a representative from HALT who will be able to give independent support and information.

HALT is a multi-agency partnership which aims to challenge and eliminate all forms of homophobia in Oxfordshire.

It includes Thames Valley Police, the Terence Higgins Trust, all five district councils, the county council, Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust and representatives from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community.

International Day Against Homophobia takes place on Saturday.