About FFLAGG

What is FFLAGG?

FFLAGG is the Forum For Lesbian And Gay Groups in Norfolk. (We are not connected with FFLAG - Friends and Families of Lesbians & Gays)

It is a partnership between Norfolk Constabulary and the various community groups representing lesbian and gay people. It was established in the mid 1990's in a response from the gay community in Norfolk to the policing of public sex areas that at the time was considered oppressive and discriminatory. Many gay men were not only arrested and charged but as a result were exposed in the local press resulting in job loss, family breakdown and public humiliation. Furthermore, gay people were continuing to be the victims of homophobic crimes, particularly crimes of violence but were reluctant to report to the police for fear of being ignored or accused of contributing to the offence through the nature of their sexuality.

Following discussions between representatives of the gay community and Norfolk Police, FFLAGG was established to address these issues and maintain an open dialogue and identify specific aims and objectives which would ensure a more fair and effective means of policing the public sex areas and ensure that homophobic behaviour was treated as a serious crime.

How does FFLAGG operate?

FFLAGG members meet every two months in order to encourage debate,ensure open dialogue and review progress of objectives. It also identifies specific aims that are progressed by both the police and members of the gay community.

To date these include:-

Ensuring all police officers are aware of the importance of diversity and individuals are not discriminated against because of their sexuality.
Ensuring all offences against gay people are treated with respect and seriousness.
Ensuring gay men are not specifically targeted and arrested without warning in public sex areas.

To achieve these aims, FFLAGG has been instrumental in achieving the following objectives to date:-

Provision of training to all new police recruits.
Recruitment and training of police officers in specific issues in respect of dealing with victims of homophobia (Gay Liaison Officers - GLO's)
Introduction of 3rd party reporting.
Introduction of new Force policy for policing public sex areas.