Liverpool’s gay community has called for more to be done after a gang attacked a police officer.Samantha Parker reports
LIVERPOOL’S gay community said more needs to be done to combat homophobic hate crime in the city following a vicious gang attack on an openly gay police officer.
Trainee officer James Parkes, 22, was attacked by a group of up to 20 youths in Stanley Street, in Liverpool city centre, at around 10pm on Sunday, following a night out with friends.
He is currently in hospital with life threatening injuries which include multiple skull fractures, a fractured cheek bone and a fractured eye socket.
Four teenagers, aged 14, 17 and two aged 15, from the Kirkdale area, were yesterday arrested on suspicion of assault, but released on bail last night. Two more youths, both aged 15 and from Kirkdale, have now also been arrested and are being questioned by detectives.
Last night, the city’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community announced they were planning a peaceful march and a meeting to discuss how to stop hate crimes continuing.
Edge Hill student Emma Louise Stewart, 24, started a Facebook group “Liverpool march against homophobia” after hearing about the attack on Mr Parkes.
She said: “When I heard about what had happened I felt now is the time to do something. Within two hours, more than 60 people had signed up. Edge Hill’s student union has agreed to help me organise the event.
“It will be a peaceful march and will hopefully take place towards the end of November.
“It will be peaceful as fighting violence with violence doesn’t get us anywhere.”
Tommy McIlravey, chairman of Liverpool’s LGB&T, said: “We will be holding an open meeting later this month and will be inviting senior police officers to attend.
“Stanley Street is the very heart of gay Liverpool. There has been a gay bar somewhere along there for the best part of 40 years. What’s more, it has always felt like a much safer place on a Friday or Saturday night than much of the rest of Liverpool city centre.
“Whatever the motivation for this attack, it is shocking to everyone who socialises in that area. Hopefully James Parkes will make a full recovery.
