15/06/2007

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)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 November 2003
DPPs tour PSNI Training College
The Police Service College opened its doors to members of District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) today to showcase the vital police work carried out by a number of police departments.
07 April 2006
Rea re-elected Chairman of NI Policing Board
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has announced the re-election of Sir Desmond Rea as Chairman and the election of Barry Gilligan as the Board’s Vice Chairman. The new Policing Board came into effect on April 1 and as their first duty was required to elect a Chair and Vice Chair.
04 April 2008
Top Cop Squares Up To Maskey Over West Belfast
In a TV clash worthy of US presidential candidate hopefuls, last night saw an unexpected war of words breaking out between a Sinn Fein member of the NI Policing Board - and former Lord Mayor of Belfast - and the Chief Constable.
25 July 2006
Policing Board publishes Fifth Annual Report
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has today published its Fifth Annual Report, which contains an overview of the work of the Board and an assessment of police performance during the period from April 1 2005 – March 31 2006.
25 April 2007
Policing Board to address major US policing conference
A delegation from the Northern Ireland Policing Board will travel to the United States this week to participate in the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) annual conference in Chicago, which brings together over 350 police chiefs from across the United States.