Chichester Pride condemns suspected homophobic hate crime

Sussex Police confirmed a boy was arrested on Friday, October 16, following an incident in Chichester city centre on Tuesday, October 13.

The victim, a man in his 20s, reported being followed and verbally abused by a group of young men riding bicycles in the Little London car park, behind East Street, at around 6pm. Police are treating the incident as a homophobic hate crime.

The incident led to the cancellation of Tuesday evening’s performance, after audience members had taken their seats.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (October 14), Chichester Festival Theatre said it was ‘deeply shocked’ that a member of the company had been the victim of an ‘appallingly abusive attack’.

Police said the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on suspicion of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, as well as on suspicion of shop theft.

He was issued with a Community Protection Warning and released on bail pending further enquiries.

In a statement, Chichester Pride expressed its support for the victim and the wider LGBTQ+ community.

The statement read: “We are appalled that a member of the A Midsummer Night's Dream cast at Chichester Festival Theatre has been subjected to an attack which Sussex Police have confirmed they are treating as a homophobic hate crime.

“Our thoughts are with the person affected, their colleagues and everyone at Chichester Festival Theatre, as well as members of our wider LGBTQ+ community who may be feeling distressed or unsettled by what has happened.

“Nobody should have to experience intimidation, harassment or violence because of who they are, or who others perceive them to be.

"That this has happened here in Chichester, during National Hate Crime Awareness Week, is a sobering reminder of the prejudice and hostility that LGBTQ+ people continue to face, including within our own communities.

“For LGBTQ+ people, feeling safe is about more than the absence of violence. It means being able to hold hands, express who we are and go about our everyday lives without fear of abuse or hostility.

“We all have a part to play in creating a community where everyone feels safe, respected and welcome. That means standing alongside those targeted by hate, challenging prejudice and refusing to allow discrimination to go unchallenged.

“There is no place for homophobia or any other form of discrimination or hate in Chichester.”

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Sussex Police online, quoting reference 47260238010, or call 101.