Client Services
Free and confidential advice and advocacy
Galop operates a Helpline. This provides advice and support to lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people who have experienced homophobic or transphobic hate crime or violence in the greater London area. It is free and you can remain anonymous if you wish. You can also use our Live Online Help.
We can advise on the law and your rights and give you advice on immediate and practical steps you can take to deal with LGBT hate crime you may be experiencing. Visit our Help With Hate Crime page for more information.
Galop does not provide counselling but we can refer you to other LGBT-friendly organisations who offer more specialised services. You can find more information on our Useful Links page.
Advocate on your behalf with the police or other organisations
If you have already reported an incident to the police or another organisation and are unhappy with their response or feel you need further assistance, Galop can liaise for you to try and resolve the situation.
Report a crime to the police on your behalf
If you have experienced or know of any anti-LGBT hate crime or incident but do not feel able to report this directly to the police, Galop can do this for you and act as an intermediary if you want the incident to be investigated further. You can remain anonymous if you wish, although if you want us to liaise with the police on your behalf we will need to be able to contact you. You can use our Online Report Form or phone our Shoutline.
Help you to obtain Criminal Injuries Compensation
If you have received injuries as a result of a violent homophobic or transphobic hate crime, Galop can advise you and assist with the process of applying for and claiming financial compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation system.
Advise you about injunctions
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Provide you with details of LGBT-friendly solicitors and police officers
Many London boroughs now have dedicated or part-time LGBT Liaison Officers who can be more sympathetic if you experienced a homophobic or transphobic incident. Galop can put you in touch with the appropriate officer in your area or liaise with them on your behalf. If you need further legal help Galop can also give you details of solicitors or other legal representatives who specialise or regularly take LGBT cases.
Make a complaint against the police
The Metropolitan Police now have a comprehensive policy to ensure that they provide a fair and unbiased service to anyone who experiences hate-crime in London. If you do not feel that you have received correct treatment from the police, Galop can tell you the minimum standards of service you can expect and help you to make a formal complaint if this is appropriate. Visit our Help With The Police page for more information.
