Following a spate of ‘sickening and shocking’ homophobic attacks in Liverpool, BID chief executive Bill Addy says it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the city is a safe place. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool needs to work harder to create a safe environment following a “shocking” rise in homophobic attacks in the city, the chief executive of Liverpool BID says.

Just over a week ago another attack on the member of the city’s LGBTQ community was reported when student Kolade Ladipo was left covered in blood following an incident at the Jamaica Street Carnival over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Over the past few months there has been a number of attacks. Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID, says he is working with partners at Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council to make the city centre a safer place.

He says it is the responsibility of everyone living and working in the city centre to make people safe and tackle homophobia and intolerance. Mr Addy said: “Liverpool is a city that thrives on its reputation for being welcoming and friendly, but that reputation is something that needs constant work and constant vigilance.

“The recent rise in homophobic attacks in the city centre is both sickening and shocking, but it isn’t the responsibility of our LGBTQ community to keep themselves safe, it’s the responsibility of everyone.

“Liverpool’s night-time economy is world famous and we have seen the rapid rise in footfall over the past two months as the economy has reopened. We need to continue to set a tone of being a city where you can go out, have a great night out and return home safely.

“Zero-tolerance for homophobia means calling it out, it means making intolerance as unwelcome in Liverpool as violence. For businesses this means creating a safe environment, of ensuring that acceptance is part of everyday culture and behaviour.”