Better lighting, public transport and improved relationships with South Wales Police demanded to combat hate crime
MEMBERS of Cardiff’s LGBT+ community have called for better public transport and for South Wales Police to improve relations with the community as LGBT+ hate crime remains a pressing issue following the Gary Jenkins murder trial.
People have voiced their concerns after the murder of NHS Consultant Dr Jenkins whose death in July 2021 shocked many in the community.
Dr Jenkins was attacked in Bute Park while looking for sex with other men in the early hours of the morning, sometimes known as cruising. Three people were convicted of Dr Jenkins’ murder on February 3.
A vigil was held for Dr Jenkins on February 6 outside the National Museum. Hundreds of people attended with colleagues, patients and the public paying tribute to Dr Jenkins’ life and work.
Edeh Gharibi, 20, from Cathays, volunteers for Cardiff LGBTQ+ Law Clinic – an organisation providing legal help to LGBT+ people. Ms Gharibi said: “It reminded us we’re all in this together and we’re not alone in what’s going on right now.”
The attack has made many who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender question their own safety in Cardiff.
Keira Evans, 26, from Cathays, said: “It’s always at the forefront of my mind. I’ve been yelled at in the street and I’ve got into fights with people staring at my partner, who is a transgender woman, on the bus.”
Though experiences varied, people generally felt things are getting worse. Some said they are now more hesitant to hold hands or kiss in public out of fear of hostility from strangers, even during the day.
Ms Gharibi said: “I’m definitely a lot more fearful. I live close to Bute Park, and I don’t feel comfortable walking around town at night when it is dark and by myself.”
Ian Timbrell, 39, from St Fagans, said: “I’ve always felt far safer in Cardiff than in Bridgend where I grew up. Of course, there are pockets, but I have been incredibly lucky. I’ve not received any sort of discrimination until the last few years.”
Stephen Doughty MP told The Cardiffian: “Things have definitely got worse since I became an MP 10 years ago.” He said he receives homophobic abuse and threats regularly and a culture in politics and media coverage, particularly around transgender rights, was contributing to a rise in hate crime.
How can LGBT+ people feel safer in Cardiff?
Rebs Fisher-Jackson, 24, from Roath, said she’s faced harassment, stalking, and people purposely coughing on her when out with her fiancé.
“Protecting Cardiff’s LGBT+ community goes beyond just throwing a pride parade and needs to be year-round. I feel like there needs to be more safety measures in place like lighting in certain areas within the city,” she said.
Others believe better public services will help improve safety in Cardiff.
Nazmia Jamal, 42, from Penylan, said: “It would be so much safer for everyone if we had a working public transport system. This would ideally include a night service, a bus station, buses that show up and trains that run later.”
Izzy Mcleod, from Penarth, said: “I do not feel safe at night in Cardiff and spend a lot of my money on taxis or try to get lifts to get around after dark.
“The train and bus system just are not fit for purpose. The number of times I’ve tried to catch buses or trains for them to not turn up or turn up half an hour late is ridiculous.”
Others said they would like to see more education and awareness around LGBT+ issues.
Mr Timbrell who is a teacher said: “I always tell my class that I’m gay and it wasn’t until this year that I’ve had an issue. It takes time for people to change. People don’t change their opinions overnight so visibility is hugely important.”
Concerns and distrust over how South Wales Police will respond
Some expressed concern about South Wales Police’s response to Gary Jenkins’ murder and hate crime more broadly.
Mr Timbrell said that he would not like to see the police targeting cruising in areas like Bute Park.
“You’re not going to stop people who go there. The police need to make things safe because people will go there anyway, even if they lock the gates. Banning it will just drive it underground and people to places where things might be even less safe,” he said.
These are concerns echoed by Grangetown Councillor Ashley Lister.
He said: “We have to separate part of what happened away from the community. Bute Park is not safe for anyone at that time of day. Whatever Cardiff Council and the police do in response can’t criminalise the people who go there to cruise.”
Others worried the police might increase their presence in certain areas of the city.
Ms Gharibi said: “A lot of LGBT+ people are afraid to go to the police, the people who are supposed to help us. The police have not historically been friendly to the community.
“For me, I would not trust them to take it seriously if I had something happen to me because of my identity.”
In October 2021, the police launched a scheme with its LGBT+ Network working with venues to host a ‘Cuppa with a Copper’ where a South Wales Police officer would be present to encourage hate crime reporting.
At the time, Superintendent Jason Rees said: “By creating this partnership, we hope it shows the community we are here to help keep them safe and deal with any issues they may have.”
Ms Fisher-Jackson said: “A police officer repeatedly referred to my fiancee as my friend to the point where it was very obvious. My Dad had to step in and correct this officer’s behaviour multiple times.
“From my own experience and my friends, I have no faith in South Wales Police being an organisation that cares about LGBT+ people’s safety. There needs to be a serious public commitment from the police.
“The number of times I’ve not had my safety taken seriously because I’m in a relationship with another woman is so frustrating and that’s directly when dealing with police behaviour themselves. Every one of my friends has had a dangerous homophobic or transphobic encounter within Cardiff that has been ignored or belittled and it’s not good enough.”
Ms Evans argues the police need to recognise some LGBT+ people do not believe the police currently takes their concerns seriously.
She said: “The current policy is not effective if people will not go to them. I’ve had a friend of mine who was harassed on Twitter to the point someone was posting their personal details. The police said nothing could be done despite us having evidence.
“The same friend once had someone try and break in their door, shouting slurs through the letterbox but the police didn’t turn up until the next day.
“People don’t want to go to the police because they’ll know it’ll be difficult, especially transgender people.”
Ms Evans and others suggest the police work more with charities like Victim Support as well as Trans Aid Cymru.
Coun Lister believes current policies to tackle LGBT+ hate crime should be more proactive and expanded outside LGBT+ venues.
He said: “I’ve challenged the police on this and brought up that the anti-homophobia and transphobia campaign by the police is largely just literature in LGBT+ spaces.
“I wanted to see it distributed more widely as LGBT+ discrimination happens outside of those spaces. There’s always more to be done and I would be concerned if they thought matching in a parade once a year was enough.”
In a statement after the trial concluded, the police said they provided support for Louis Williams, who was attacked at the same time as Mr Jenkins.
A statement said: “South Wales Police is a strong advocate of LGBTQ+ communities and champions their rights through everything we do.”
What is Cardiff Council doing in response to Gary Jenkins’ murder?
Coun Lister said: “We’re reviewing measures to make Bute Park safer but any response has to be led by the community. We also have to look at other cities and what they’ve done to make people who go there at night safer.”
Mr Lister said both South Wales Police and Leader of Cardiff Council Huw Thomas have assured him any response by both organisations will be community led.
“We want to know what the Council can do more and have that led by the community working with organisations like Pride Cymru and other community groups in the city,” Coun Lister said.
“This goes beyond hate crime too. As a council we need to make sure our services are LGBT+ friendly.”
