The Law: Police turn to gay media for recruits

Police forces are increasingly advertising in the gay and lesbian media to attract a wider variety of recruits, it was revealed yesterday.

Paul Fairweather, from the National Advisory Group - Policing Lesbian and Gay Communities, said so far the policy was limited to areas where their were well-known gay communities, such as Sussex and Manchester. "In the long term we hope it will become a matter of normal practice."

Mr Fairweather, who was speaking during the group's annual conference in Brighton, said there was a real need for the police to recruit more openly gay and lesbian officers. "That will change the canteen culture of our forces."

The organisation backed a speech by Home Office Minister Alun Michael, the first government minister to attend such a conference, who acknowledged the need to build bridges with the gay community. "I recognise that lack of trust in the police has resulted in serious underreporting of homophobic attacks and a feeling that people's lifestyles - rather than the crimes are under investigation," he said.

However, there were some good examples of police practice around the country where there has been good "dialogue" between the police and gay communities, he said.

"The Government is also playing its part. Legislation is now in place to ensure people do not have to suffer a campaign of harassment, and it can be used for the protection of lesbians and gay men.