Time for a GLLO Up!
A GLLO (Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer) is a police officer who has been trained to provide specific support and assistance to members of the LGBTIQ+ community. In Australia, GLLOs are typically responsible for building relationships with the LGBTIQ+ community, providing support to victims of hate crimes and discrimination, and working with other officers to ensure that the rights of LGBTIQ+ people are respected and protected. They also provide education and training to other officers on LGBTIQ+ issues, and help to ensure that the police force is inclusive and respectful of all members of the community.
To contact a GLLO, call your local police and ask to speak with a GLLO – LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officer. Many police stations have a GLLO but these officers may not be available immediately. Please do not wait to report a crime – report it immediately to your local police. You can request follow-up support from a GLLO.
It is important to note that each state and territory in Australia have their own police force and the function of GLLOs may differ in terms of the level of support they provide and the way they are implemented.
ACT
The Australian Federal Police’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO) Network is a volunteer network which helps support individuals and managers within the Australian Federal Police as well as members of the LGBTIQ+ community it serves.
In ACT Policing there are trained GLLOs who form a vital link between police and the LGBTI community.
SA
In support of the specific needs of the LGBTIQ+ Community, SAPOL has established a network of GLLOs.
In SA, a GLLO is a police officer or other government employee who has volunteered to undertake this role and received specific training to provide additional support to members of the LGBTIQ community.
The GLLO network has been established to:
Support the fair and equitable delivery of policing services to the LGBTIQ community.
Improve community safety by working in partnership with the LGBTIQ community.
Offer additional support to victims of crime from the LGBTIQ community.
Contribute to the development of mutual trust between police and LGBTIQ community.
NSW
NSW Police GLLOs are contact officers for the broader sexuality, gender diverse and intersex communities. Their training includes specific information on the history of the relationship between police and LGBTIQ communities, challenges and sensitivities experienced by some community members to engage with police, and effective responses to people who become victims of crime.
They also assist other police to respond to homophobic and transphobic incidents and work with the Engagement and Hate Crime Unit and other specialist areas. Another aspect of their role is to champion LGBTIQ+ inclusion at work and provide support to LGBTIQ+ staff.
VIC
Victoria Police has over 450 LGBTIQ+ liaison officers (LLOs), serving as contact points for the LGBTIQ+ community.
LLOs work to create mutual trust between police and the LGBTIQ+ community, ensuring Victoria Police maintains a fair and equal policing service.
LLOs provide:
discrete, non-judgemental expert advice and help when reporting a crime as well as information about support services
recommendations to our organisation on the policing needs of LGBTIQ+ people.
You can hear more about Victoria Police LLO’s on Joy Melbourne’s GLLO Show! https://joy.org.au/theglloshow/
QLD
The QPS LGBTI Liaison Program was established in 1997 to support the delivery of a professional, non-discriminatory, accessible policing service to LGBTIQ+ communities.
LGBTI liaison officers promote trust and understanding between the QPS and LGBTIQ+ communities ensuring confidence in a fair and equitable policing response. LGBTI liaison officers receive specific LGBTIQ+ training and are sensitive to the issues each community faces.
LGBTI liaison officers can support you by providing discrete, non-judgemental advice, assistance or referral for all police related matters. LGBTI liaison officers are also called upon to use their knowledge to support police investigators in LGBTI related prejudice motived crime, domestic and family violence, and criminal matters.
There are over 150 LGBTI liaison officers working in police stations around the state.
Please note that LGBTI liaison officers undertake their role in addition to their usual duties. This may mean a liaison officer may not be available at all times.
WA
Although WA does not have an official GLLO program, the WA Police Force support and promote the reporting of crime committed against people who identify with the diverse sexuality and/or gender (DSG) community.
TAS
Tasmania Police was one of the first Australian police services to educate and inform police recruits about the lived experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Intersex Tasmanians. Tasmania Police is building on that proud history by ensuring our services are delivered as fairly and inclusively as possible.
Tasmania Police acknowledge that Tasmania was the last state to decriminalise male-to-male relationships. This has left a legacy of stigma and discrimination that Tasmania Police seeks to address.
An important aspect of the service Tasmania Police provide to the LGBTI community is the LGBTI Liaison Officer.
The LGBTI Liaison Officers’ mission is to contribute to the creation of mutual trust between police and LGBTI people so they have increased confidence in police through the provision of a fair and equitable policing service.
Liaison Officers are police officers located throughout the state who can provide discrete advice on crimes and offences and ensure reports to police are appropriately acted upon.
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