Police and prosecution service build links with LGBT community

Scotland's police and prosecution services have held an event to build links with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

COPFS and Police Scotland last night hosted a "discussion and engagement" event in Edinburgh to listen to people’s experiences of hate crime and the criminal justice system.

The event was aimed at increasing confidence within the LGBT community, to encourage reporting of hate crimes targeting them. It was also used to give information and reassurance on the treatment of LGBT individuals giving evidence in court as victims and witnesses of crime.

The Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, commmented afterwards: "We will continue engaging and working closely with LGBT groups to increase their confidence in police and prosecutors and encourage the reporting of offences against them.

"We want to reassure them, and the public in general, that a robust approach is and will continue to be taken in Scotland to any prejudice and hatred which finds expression in criminal behaviour."