On a recent Friday evening, members of the West London Queer Project were subjected to verbal abuse by two young men on bicycles outside My Place Chiswick. The incident occurred during one of the group’s popular weekly socials, which attract approximately 40 attendees from the LGBTQ community. As the group gathered on the pavement, the situation escalated when the men made derogatory remarks, including references to the two gay men and a trans woman present, using phrases like ‘batty boys’ and mocking comments about “a man in a dress.” Fearing for their safety, the perpetrators made a swift exit as bystanders began to take notice.
Aubrey Crawley, an organiser of the West London Queer Project, expressed alarm over the incident, stating, “We called the police, but they didn’t come.” Despite providing details and receiving reassurance that officers would respond, the police did not arrive at the scene. Following the abuse, the three individuals targeted—one of whom is a refugee—left with a fellow WLQP member, who escorted them to the nearest tube station due to their fear and distress.
Crawley recounted a subsequent attempt to contact the police that evening after an altercation involving a barman, but once again, the police did not respond. He noted the constraints on police resources, suggesting that budget cuts have left law enforcement under-resourced. “I know if they had the resources they would come,” he remarked, highlighting his understanding of the police's limitations.
Throughout the past few months, the sense of safety in Chiswick has been increasingly questioned by its residents, particularly within the LGBTQ community. While Crawley is dedicated to creating inclusive and secure spaces, he conveyed that the recent events have triggered concern amongst locals. “Chiswick has felt like a safe place but what happened on Friday is very concerning,” he said.
The unease within the community is further exacerbated by the recent passing of Brian Constance, a fellow member of Crawley’s circle, who died of a heart attack earlier this year on Turnham Green. His death was initially classified as ‘unexplained’ and occurred under troubling circumstances; two individuals were arrested for the theft of his wallet and phone on the same night. The combination of this incident and the prevailing political climate has led to a heightened sense of vulnerability among community members, as articulated by Crawley: “Our community is feeling very vulnerable at the moment.”
The Chiswick Calendar has reached out to the Metropolitan Police for a statement regarding the incident and the concerns raised by the West London Queer Project and local residents.
Source: Noah Wire Services