Police Board to set up Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Group

Members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board have met with representatives of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community to discuss the setting up of a reference group.

In partnership with the Rainbow Project and the Belfast Butterfly Club, representatives of other LGBT organisations have been invited by the Policing Board to help in the setting up of a Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Reference Group.

Policing Board Vice Chairman Barry Gilligan said that the establishment of the Reference Group is an important part of their Community Engagement Strategy.

“The new group will enable the Board to better understand the dynamics of LGBT communities, their issues and concerns in relation to policing, while giving group representatives an opportunity to contribute to the work of the Board in relation to these issues, which will be one of its primary roles,” Mr Gilligan said.

Welcoming the event, Rainbow Project Manager, Mirjam Bader said: “The Rainbow Project was very pleased to provide its support to this meeting to discuss the setting up of a LGBT Reference Group to support the work of the Policing Board and thereby further enhancing the partnership working between the sector and the Board.”

Chair of the Policing Board’s Community Engagement Committee, Alex Maskey, also voiced his support for the meetings, saying: “Engaging communities on policing issues and listening to communities’ views is an area of work that I am fully supportive of. It is only through discussion and debate that understanding and relationships can be built.”

The Information Events were held in the City Hotel in Derry /Londonderry on Tuesday 12th June and the Europa Hotel, Belfast on Thursday 14 June.

(JM/KMcA)