Gay police officers' group formed

A new staff support team for homosexual police officers working in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire has been formed.

The group will focus on tackling homophobic behaviour in the workplace and improving relations with local gay and lesbian communities.

Work to create the Thames Valley Gay Police Association has been under way for the last six months.

A force spokesman said he hoped the team would improve public services.

Pc Alistair Melling, chair of the association, said: "We want to improve our contacts in the gay and lesbian communities of the Thames Valley and use these to benefit the public.

"A good network of contacts will help us provide a better service to victims of hate crime; give good advice and guidance to people with queries or concerns and it will allow us to give specialist assistance to our own officers in certain operational situations."