2004 – True Vision Campaign
Cover of the True Vision Pack
“True Vision” was officially launched in Lichfield in May 2004 as a campaign to encourage wider reporting of hate crimes related to race, religion, or lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender identities. When Staffordshire Police started the scheme it had already been adopted by 36 out of the 43 police forces in the country.
Cannock Chase Chronicle 27 May 2004
Contents of the True Vision Pack
The True Vision Hate Crime reporting pack is a pocket sized cardboard wallet that folds out to reveal the following leaflets and resources:
- Self Reporting – What’s It About
- Keep Safe – Be Streetwise
- What’s Happening in Your Community
- Domestic Abuse
- Bullying Hurts
- Hate Crime Self Reporting Form
- Policing for Prosecuting Cases With a Homophobic Element (Crown Prosecution Service)
The outside of the leaflet titled “What’s Happening in Your Community” states that:
“Staffordshire Police will not tolerate any form of hate crime. We are committed to ensuring your safety regardless of an individual’s sexuality or gender. In each of the four police divisions within Staffordshire we have a hate crime officer to handle homophobic, gender and community issues. They can provide you with advice, discuss what has happened to you and put you in touch with other agencies who may be able to provide you with other forms of support. Hate crime officers are trained, they can help.”
Inside of the True Vision “What’s Happening In Your Community” leaflet
It had only been seven years since LGBT+ Community relations with the police had been at an all time low. This turnaround represents quite an achievement and in a few more years Staffordshire Police would receive a Stonewall accolade as Britain’s most gay friendly employer. You can read more about the launch of the first campaign against hate crime in Staffordshire here – 1998 Police Tackle Hate Crime
Copyright Notice
The newspaper cuttings featured here have been compiled from archives by this post’s author, Andrew Colclough, as part of his personal research into local LGBT+ history. Copyright belongs to the newspapers that published the articles. The news cuttings have been shared here by Andrew Colclough on the basis of fair personal/non commercial use.
