Your Right to Report Violence
21 Mar 2023
Our LGBTIQ+ communities have a very fraught history with police – having been criminalised, subject to extrajudicial violence by officers, and suffered institutionalised prejudice and discrimination within law enforcement. Recent events show that our communities still consistently face hateful vilification from parts of society, and that police responses still often leave much to be desired.
Below are links to several resources to make a complaint about police misconduct or report violence or vilification against our communities:
- Victoria Police - Complaints (police.vic.gov.au).
- IBAC What is police misconduct | IBAC.
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission - Web Form Submission (humanrights.vic.gov.au) – assists people to resolve complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, racial and religious vilification, and victimisation.
- Police Accountability Project – provides strategic litigation, evidence-based research, community support and policy and law reform to hold police who abuse to account.
- Melbourne Activist Legal Support (MALS) – is an independent group of lawyers and advocates that monitors protest events and reports on public order policing.
LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officers (LLOs)
Previously known as GLLOs, LLOs are Victoria Police employees who have volunteered to provide support to LGBTIQ+ community members in addition to their day-to-day duties. Victoria Police has over 450 LLOs.
If you need to engage Victoria Police, but are concerned about homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, or a lack of understanding or sensitivity to your situation, you can request to speak to a LLO, by:
- Calling the Police Assistance Line on 131 444
- Emailing LLO-Coordinator-MGR@police.vic.gov.au
- Calling your local station directly and asking how to get in contact with their LLO
You can find out more information on LLOs at: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/LGBTIQ-liaison-officers