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Police ‘homophobia’ in murder investigations
Report claims ‘insensitive’ officers fail gay community
A BUNGLED investigation into a murder in Marylebone is part of a damning report exposing “institutionalised homophobia” at Scotland Yard.
The independent review of 10 unsolved murders in the gay community found Met Police probes repeatedly marred by ignorance and prejudice.
The 46-page report – including probes into the deaths of two West End actors and a prostitute from Marylebone – was written by the Metropolitan Police’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Advisory Group.
It centred on a comment made by one senior officer who claimed: “A person born with any sort of colour doesn’t have a choice in the matter.
“Sexual preferences, however, are a matter of individual choice.”
Bob Hodgson, co-author of the report, said: “Things were awful but now they are better.”
The report blasts another investigation into an unsolved murder of a woman from Marylebone.
Robyn Brown was found in her home with multiple wounds to her neck and chest.
Several suspects were identified but a lack of forensic evidence meant no arrests were made.
The police probe was flawed mistaking Ms Brown’s identity and police handled the case insensitively, the report found.
Ms Brown was named as Robyn, James, Jenna and Errol in their investigations “undermining confidence in the police’s ability to handle sensitively the lifestyle of each victim and of her friends and colleagues or clients”.
The report recommended: “In cases involving transgender people, advice should be sought from transgender groups. Legal advice should also be taken regarding disclosure of transgender status.
“Training should be provided.”
Two separate murders of actors working in the West End are named in the report.
Michael Boothe and Peter Walker were killed in the early nineties in Earls Court. |
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