What stops LGBTI people seeking support from LGBTI police liaison officers?

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) police liaison programs were established in Australia from the late 1980s onwards to ameliorate the historically problematic relationship between LGBTI people and police. Police liaison officers are trained in LGBTI issues and typically available to support LGBTI victims, offenders and even witnesses. Interestingly, although there is considerable awareness of these services among LGBTI people, very few LGBTI people seek support from these officers (Berman & Robinson 2010). This paper outlines the results of an analysis of interview data exploring why LGBTI people do not seek support from LGBTI police liaison officers in three Australian states (Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia). Interviews were conducted with LGBTI people who, upon completing an online survey about their contact with LGBTI police liaison officers, expressed an interest in being interviewed, and with LGBTI police liaison officers who expressed an interest in being interviewed in response to an email from their state LGBTI police liaison program coordinator. The many complex and intersecting factors that prevent LGBTI people from seeking support from LGBTI police liaison officers are briefly discussed below