AUSTRALIA: Police ignore hate crimes

GAY-HATE crimes are on the rise in Sydney, with activists warning violence may spiral out of control in the lead-up to the 30th year of Mardi Gras.

The AIDS Council Of NSW said it had received 22 reports of homophobic violence in the past six weeks alone, compared with 30 over the previous five months.

"If you look at the rate, it's basically doubled since about November," Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project co-ordinator Carl Harris said.

It can be revealed the council will lodge a formal complaint with the NSW Ombudsman against Surry Hills police for allegedly failing to protect the gay community.

The move is a response to the brutal and unsolved bashing of Redfern couple Craig and Shane on Crown St, Surry Hills, on December 3.

"We felt like we were doing the investigation and they were giving us excuses," Craig said.

"Police at Surry Hills do not encourage people to report homophobic violence as a hate crime and they sometimes fail to properly record such incidents as hate crime.

The bashing incident prompted Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore to write to NSW Police Minister David Campbell for the second time in a month demanding police take more action.

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