Kingston police are inviting members of the local LGBTQ+ community to come and speak to officers at a walk and talk this August in Canbury Gardens.

The event is the first in a series planned to reach out to the community, hear their concerns and answer any questions they might have.

LGBTQ+ individuals are not only more likely to become a victim of hate crime than many others, but they are also less likely to report crime if they do become victims.

The event on the 5th August, running from 11am – 1pm, will be run by Kingston Police's LGBTQ+ advisors, police officers who are LGBTQ+ themselves, or advocates who want to know they and their organisations, can improve.

Acting Police Sergeant Steve Hales, who works in Kingston said: "Please do come and meet us for a chat, we're here to speak about any of your concerns, how to report crime, your rights as a victim or your concerns about the police.

"We're here to meet all of our community - so whether you're LGBTQ+ thinking of joining the police or have concerns about your local police, we're happy to tell you what's going on internally, what you can expect as a victim or anything else you might want to speak about"

It is hoped this will be the start of a frequent run of similar events, tickets are not required and those who wish to register their interest should visit the link here.