Haringey s Crown Prosecution Service community prosecutor visited London s West End on Friday night in a bid to increase understanding among the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community about domestic violence and homophobic crime. Commun

Haringey's Crown Prosecution Service community prosecutor visited London's West End on Friday night in a bid to increase understanding among the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community about domestic violence and homophobic crime.

Community prosecutor Hywel Ebsworth said:

"Enquiries revealed that many members of Haringey's LGBT community tend to head into the West End for a night out rather than stay locally.

"Together with other representatives from Haringey's LGBT network and Domestic Violence forum, I visited about ten pubs, shops and cafes that are known to have patrons from the LGBT community. I dropped off information leaflets about domestic violence and spoke to staff, giving them more information about what the CPS does.

"The LGBT community can be reluctant to come forward if they are a victim of domestic violence or a homophobic crime but I am meeting people in a bid to encourage them to do so.

"The Crown Prosecution Service regard homophobic crime as particularly serious because it undermines people's right to feel safe about their sexual orientation. It is also acknowledged that domestic violence is as much of a problem in the LGBT community as it is in the wider community.

"Such crimes are based on prejudice, discrimination and hate, and they have no place in an open and democratic society.

"The CPS regards domestic violence and the homophobic element of any crime as a serious aggravating feature and we are determined to play our part in reducing crime by bringing offenders to justice.