Special feature: Why is homophobic crime on the rise in Bolton?

HOMOPHOBIC crime more than doubled in Bolton last year.

There were 40 hate crimes relating to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people in the town in just 12 months — and the figure is up 135 per cent on the previous year, when there were only 17 incidents.

The increase is despite police fears that there is "huge under-reporting" of the issue.

Now LGBT groups have said Bolton is "backward" with the issue of gay rights, with one student saying she was shocked when she moved to the town from Brighton, and that she and her friends "cannot be themselves".

With one in 10 people either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, about three children in every Bolton classroom on average will have questions over their sexuality.

But the level of education on the issue of homosexuality in schools has been described as "unacceptable", with some critics saying young gay people are bullied because the matter is not dealt with.

However, the government says it has invested heavily in tacking homophobic bullying and training teachers to deal with issues.

Across Greater Manchester there were 376 homophobic crimes recorded, out of a total of 3,477 hate crimes.

There were 386 hate crimes in Bolton — up 13 per cent — which includes racially-motivated crime.

Greater Manchester Police recorded 278 violent crimes relating to a person's sexuality between January and October 2014, which was markedly up from 231 during the whole of 2013 and 259 in 2012.

Det Insp Charlotte Cadden said: "It is going in the right direction but there is still a huge degree of under-reporting in relation to these offences.

"We have a hate crime action plan and that is to encourage reporting.

"The problem is even more acute with transgender crime because people feel embarrassed reporting crimes."

The majority of the crimes reported are for minor public order offences, such as verbal abuse or low-level assaults. But the consequences are more far-reaching.

As Sarah Kiernan, chair of the University of Bolton's LGBT society says, abuse prevents people being themselves, and even coming out in the first place.

She said: "Brighton has such a big LGBT scene and I had been used to knowing loads of people and being out there and comfortable.

"I came to Bolton and was shocked — it was completely different.

"I remember going to a bar in Bradshawgate with a friend. My friend had been holding hands with his boyfriend and these other lads came up and started trying to start a fight.

"That was the first time I had experienced anything like that. These guys were also students as well. Bearing in mind I have been out as gay for quite a few years."

That experience is not uncommon in Bolton.

At Bolton Magistrates' Court Sophie Hall, a volunteer who offers counselling to alcoholics and drug addicts, was convicted for making homophobic remarks to three men, including her neighbours.

Meanwhile, a transgender woman in Bolton was harangued in the street by a man shouting 'are you a man?' at her. She reported it but police fear she is one of the few who has come forward.

Often the incidents take place when people have been drinking.

Det Insp Cadden added: "It seems people's first reactions when they have been drinking is often to shout about people's sexuality.

"I don't think Bolton is unsafe for gay or lesbian people. I think a lot of people don't report things as they are not aware it is a specific crime."

But Miss Kiernan, in the final year of a creative writing degree, is not so convinced, saying she and her friends have just one night out they feel safe going to — Tuesday nights at Reflex — while bemoaning the absence of a Bolton Pride.

She said: "We feel safe in the university but we won't be completely ourselves when we are around the town. I find that quite upsetting.

"I was very shocked by the level of ignorance there was towards the existence of an LGBT community."

Lisa O'Neill-Rogan used to run the LGBT society Octagon Basic, which has since disbanded, and a Bolton Council group she says has closed.

She said: "Bolton is a funny place. We're a bit backward with a lot of things.

"These stats do not surprise me at all. Bolton needs a stronger LGBT community

"We struggled to recruit for our club but clearly there is a strong LGBT population out there — hence the number of cases.

"This is an indication of people not wanting to come forward and be so public about their sexuality

"We took advice from groups in Manchester about safety and the advice to pass on to our members.

"It just perpetuates the issue if people are keeping their lives behind closed doors. It's ridiculous and they shouldn't feel that they have to."

She said the issue needs to be better addressed in schools.

Miss O'Neill-Rogan added: "Schools have got so much on. It is just not properly dealt with.

"So many young gay people end up having to be home-schooled because they were bullied and it was not properly dealt with,

"Homosexuality is not really mentioned in primary schools. It needs to be part of every-day life and the curriculum.

"There is still an element of not wanting to expose the issue to young people, as if it's not right.

"There won't be any books in primary schools featuring a same-sex couple,

"My seven-year-old daughter has grown up with it so she is exposed. It is no different to being with straight people."

Her argument was echoed by Labour MP for Bolton West Julie Hilling.

She said: "It is only right that people should people should be able to live their lives without fear of being attacked by narrow-minded people and it is important we do everything we can to make our streets safe for all people irrespective of their sexuality or race.

"You hear horror stories about young who do come out and then are treated badly in schools and the school are seen to be blaming them rather than the people bullying them.

"Schools in Bolton are doing work around the issue but it is important that we have good sex education in the first place."

The government says teachers are being trained in how to deal with LGBT issues.

A spokesman said: "We are providing £2million to schools to help tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying as well as LGBT issues in the classroom.

"In addition to this we have given £4 million to anti-bullying organisations that work with schools and young people — this investment is already making an impact.

“Sex and relationship education is compulsory in maintained secondary schools. Our guidance makes clear pupils should be given accurate information and helped to develop skills to enable them to understand their developing sexuality, whatever it may be, and to respect themselves and others.

“Some schools already have initiatives in place such as training for teachers and other school staff in dealing with LGBT issues and delivering lessons in a way young people can understand.”

Miss O'Neill-Rogan also said the media was guilty of giving young people the wrong image of gay people.

She added: "The media hypes up stereotypes of gay people in my experience.

"A certain type of gay person is accepted by the media — very camp men.

"Alan Carr and Graham Norton, they are the image of what young people think gay people look like. But they are figures of ridicule and humour."

One thing she is pleased about is how proactive police in Bolton have been to promote the issue of homophobic abuse, and encourage victims to speak out.

Det Insp Cadden said they would always tailor their work to the victim, and deal with abusers away from court to avoid stress, such as using restorative justice, such as written or face-to-face apologies.

She added: " We will do whatever the victims want to try and resolve the problem. Do not put up with it."