by Nadia Sam-Daliri A drive for more people to report homophobic hate crime is underway after figures revealed attacks have more than doubled. Voluntary group OutWest, which covers seven London boroughs including Brent and Hammersmith and

by Nadia Sam-Daliri

A drive for more people to report homophobic hate crime is underway after figures revealed attacks have more than doubled.

Voluntary group OutWest, which covers seven London boroughs including Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham, is organising talks to mark the international day against homophobia on May 17.

As the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group in west London, the group is hoping that their new third party crime reporting system will encourage more victims to come forward.

Homophobic hate crime is vastly under-reported, according to OutWest.

Crime figures published a fortnight ago showed that crimes against the community more than doubled in Brent, from 13 incidents last year to 32 this year.

In Hammersmith and Fulham, the figure rose from 28 incidents last year, to 33 this year.

Speakers who have been on the receiving end of hate crime, including the victim of an attempted murder, will talk about the effect homophobic hate crime has and encourage people to be more confident in reporting it.

OutWest has been going for more than 20 years.

Everyone is welcome to the event at the Waterman's Centre, in High Street, Brentford from 9.45am on May 15.

Register online at www.outwest.org.uk

nadia.sam-daliri@archant.co.uk