Galop
Origins
In the early 1980s the police operated with little accountability for their treatment of LGBT people. The gay communities were often seen as an easy target for arrests and intimidation. In June 1982 the Gay London Police Monitoring Group (GALOP) was created to expose the systematic harassment of the gay and lesbian communities by the police and to educate them about their rights.
It began as a voluntary grouping of lawyers and interested parties providing a free service to gay men, with support from the Greater London Council's Gay Rights Working Party. GLC funding subsequently allowed employment of two core workers; Galop’s first major achievement was to prove that the police were using agents provocateur to gain arrests and convictions of gay men.
Current focus
Since then, the role of Galop has changed fundamentally, and the Metropolitan Police now treat LGBT people very differently than in the 1980s.
Galop's current role is to prevent and challenge homophobic and transphobic hate crime in Greater London, to reduce crimes against LGBT people, and campaign for an improved criminal justice system.
Young people can access Galop via LGBT Jigsaw.
