9.00PM: Gay men hooking up through the internet or at bars and nightclubs are being urged by police to take precautions for their own safety, such as telling someone where they are going. The warning comes from an Auckland police Diversity Liaison Officer, Constable Brent Clark, who is part of the team working on the killing of gay man Ron Brown in his Otahuhu home two weeks before Christmas. Brown had met the man charged with his death in a local bar. On average one gay man a year in New Zealand is brutally killed in a hookup gone wrong, or in similar circumstances, often in their own homes. "Never go home with someone without telling someone else where you're going, says Clark. "Also, always carry a cellphone, always have money on you to catch a cab if you need to leave and always know where you're going." He says avoiding spiked drinks is also important. "Don't take drinks from strangers that aren't sealed or that have already been opened." Clark says gay men going to someone else’s home or inviting someone to their own home must take responsibility for their own behaviour, and look after their friends. "Be aware of the environment you're in," he says. If things go wrong gay men should not hesitate seeking assistance from the police, in particular a Diversity Liaison Officer (DLO) like himself, who are based at many police stations around the country, Clark says. "You can trust the police. We've done a lot of training about LGBT issues and, if you ever do have problems, then ask to speak to a DLO." GayNZ.com's national listing of NZ Police Diversity Liaison Officers is available through the link below.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 11th February 2008 - 9:23pm