VICTIMS of hate crime can report offences in a town centre gay bar in a bid to encourage them to come forward.

People who feel uncomfortable reporting incidents to the police can also go to staff at a Burnley family support centre.

A number of organisations in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have signed up to the new third-party reporting scheme, which is operating in divisions across Lancashire.

Anyone who has been a victim of a hate crime - where prejudice against people of a certain race, sexuality or from other identifiable group determines who the perpetrator victimises - can now fill out a form with at one of the agencies that has joined the scheme.

They will be asked whether they want the report to be used as information for the police and whether they would like further action to be taken to investigate the incident.

The Government-funded Elm Tree Family Support Service, Accrington Road, is one of the venues taking part.

And Alan Wagster, chairman of the Forum for Lesbian and Gays (FLAG) in Burnley, is also involved in the project at his Garden Bar, St James's Street, which he describes as a "gay orientated venue."

He said: "I think a lot of people feel intimidated going to the police station to report crimes of this nature.

"Now people can come in here, speak to any member of staff and fill out a form about the incident in a more informal atmosphere."

Alan said that since FLAG started relations between the police and the gay community had improved.

Regular police surgeries are also being held at the bar for people to talk about incidents in a more informal environment and Alan said the new reporting scheme is an extension of that.

Councillor Rafique Malik said: "It is a step in the right direction, but I don't think it will make that much of a difference as far as reporting of hate crime is concerned.

"The main reason people don't complain is that there is no action taken. This will only work if the agencies involved then follow through the complaint and keep the victim of the hate crime informed."

PC Bev Taylor from Pennine Division's Community Safety Unit said the police should ordinarily be the first port of call for anyone who needs to report a crime.

But she said the scheme acknowledges that in some cases they might feel more comfortable telling someone else.

She said: "This might be because they feel approaching us would be too difficult to handle or simply because they would feel more comfortable speaking to a third party about their case."

PC Taylor said the new reporting process was simple - the complainant completes a crime report which is then forwarded to the Community Safety Team, based at Padiham police station.

She said: " If action is to be taken against the perpetrator then we will re-contact the complainant.

"However, if the person just wants to inform us that an incident has taken place, we will log the incident bearing in mind the wishes of the individual, no contact or investigation will take place."

She said: "We are not setting this up in response to a surge in hate crime, we are just looking at ways to make the reporting of crime easier."

But she added: "It is essential that victims of hate crime come forward so that we can build up a clear picture of what is happening in our local communities.

"If this type of independent crime reporting assists people to come forward, then that can only be a good thing for everyone concerned."

Organisations taking part in the third party reporting scheme are: Burnley and District Citizen's Advice Services, in St James's Street and Daneshouse Road, Burnley; Victim Support, in Yorkshire Street, Burnley; Lancashire Welfare Rights, in Carr Road, Nelson; The Garden Bar, in St James's Street, Burnley; the Job Centre, in Bankfield, Burnley; the student liason office at Accrington and Rossendale College, Sandy Lane, Accrington; Meadow Bank Day Centre, in Burnley; Springbank Day Centre, in Padiham; Howard Street Community Health Centre, in Tay Street, Burnley; Elm Tree Family Support Service, in Accrington Road, Burnley; Student Services, Burnley College, in Shorey Bank, Burnley; Special Needs Housing Officer, Rossendale Borough Council, Town Hall, in Rawtenstall; Anti-Social Behaviour Team Leader at Burnley and Pendle Community Housing, in Brunshaw Neighbourhood Office, Brunshaw Avenue, Burnley; and SureStart South West Burnley, Parkside Methodist Church, in Cog Lane, Burnley.