Victims of ‘hate’ crime urged to speak

These form part of the Home Office’s statistics for ‘hate’ crimes to have taken place across England and Wales from 2011 to 2012.

Such incidents occur where the perpetrator’s hostility or prejudice against an identifiable group of people - predominately due to their race, sexual orientation, disability or transgender - is a factor in determining who is targeted.

Some 295 hate crimes were recorded in Warwickshire, of which 262 were linked to race, five to relition, 19 to sexual orientation, eight to disability and one to transgender.

Nationally there were 43,748 hate crimes recorded, 82 per cent of which were race related.

Chief Inspector Mike Slemensek, equality, diversity and human rights manager at Warwickshire Police, said: “I welcome the publication of the hate crime statistics, but there are many more people suffering than the figures suggest. I urge anyone who has been a victim to report it.”

Call the dedicated hate crime helpline number, 0845 129 2221.