Hounslow’s Conservative councillors have today called for Hounslow Council to act urgently to grip the issue of homophobic abuse. They want a cross-party discussion about the policies and processes that are needed to deal decisively with these cases so that residents know what to do and what to expect if they experience homophobic abuse.
The call is driven by Conservative councillors increasingly being asked by residents to intervene in cases that were raised long ago, in one case over four years ago, but which have got stuck leaving residents feeling ignored. Meanwhile, the abuse continues.
This leaves the person experiencing homophobic attack feeling frustrated, ignored, despairing and believing the council endorses the homophobic behaviour and attitudes. There are inevitable consequences on their mental health, physical health and lifestyles with some avoiding leaving or coming home for fear of bumping into the abuser and facing more abuse and the inevitable increased stress and distress it causes.
Cllr Peter Thompson, leader of the Conservative group, has asked the council to create a dedicated multi-departmental team, with a named senior officer overseeing, and a stated published process including expectations of what will happen; who will be involved; timelines that must be met; and good communications throughout.
“Silence gives the impression of inaction, that the council is not taking the complaint seriously,” Cllr Thompson said. “We need to do more, and to be far more responsive, to support not abandon residents who are experiencing homophobic attack. We want a cross-party discussion, with all who should be involved including at least one of our police LGBT advisers, to consider cases that have gone right and have gone wrong, looking at how they should be managed from now on. This is not, and cannot be, a party-political issue. This is about a very personal and distressing aspect of the lives of residents. We should all be equally concerned.”
He wants the council to do the same for cases of racism and misogyny. “The council’s CEO recently posted a message on a local media website saying it is time to call them out. We think the council needs to do more than that.”
Cllr Joanna Biddolph, who has been asked to intervene in several cases in Chiswick Gunnersbury ward, is worried about what she calls “escalating downwards”. Even if a councillor escalates a difficult case asking for high level intervention, it is delegated (escalated downwards) to the level where it was already stuck. It is not surprising that it gets stuck again. Residents say they have reached the point where they can’t take any more abuse,” she said. “They haven’t had the support they expect to stop the abuse, sometimes face a false counter allegation that stalls the process then become increasingly fearful. There are gaps and inconsistencies in what is currently done. The council needs a clear, transparent, effective policy, and to respond faster and decisively,” she said.
