Statistics published earlier this month showed the Crown Prosecution Service is prosecuting more hate crimes than ever before. Between 2015/16, CPS North East Area, covering Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland, saw one of the greatest increases in the number of completed prosecutions of homophobic and transphobic crime.
Hate crime is defined as any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person’s race, religion, sexual orientation or disability as well as any crime motivated by a hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender.
The Solicitor General is also participating in a hate crime roundtable discussion with organisations from the local community including Senior Prosecutors, Police representatives and local Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel members.
Solicitor General Robert Buckland said:
“We need to ensure that victims of hate crimes are confident that these offences will be investigated and prosecuted and that they are properly supported throughout this process. I encourage anyone who is a victim of hate crime to report it to the police immediately.”
“The Government is taking action against hate crime at every level. Only a fortnight ago we released the Hate Crime Action Plan which included £2.4 million in funding to provide security measures and equipment for vulnerable places of worship that need increased protection.”