Reports of hate crimes against transgender people are on the rise, Nottinghamshire police statistics show. Concerns were raised during a Police and Crime Panel meeting that hate crimes were increasing – but questions were raised over whether this was due to higher reporting levels.
Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry told the panel on November 21: “This is very close to my heart”. A hate crime is one that typically involves violence motivated by prejudice on the basis of race, religion or sexual orientation.
Nottinghamshire police statistics show in the 12 months to September 2022, 2,534 incidences of hate crime were recorded. This is compared to 2,508 incidences in the 12 months to September 2021.
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Police papers stated: “Hate occurrences remain comparable to the level recorded in the previous year. Within the sub-categories of hate crime, there have been increases in reported crimes relating to Sexual Orientation, Transgender and Alternative Subculture of 10.5 per cent, 10.9 per cent and 37.5 per cent respectively.”
Basford Nottingham City Councillor Linda Woodings (Lab) said during the meeting: “Within hate crime, there has been an increase in hate occurrences based on sexual orientation and hate occurrences based on transgender. I am sure all my colleagues here would condemn the level of toxicity that’s been aimed at transgender people.
“In the other areas, we are seeing a decrease in hate crime and stable figures but this is the exception. Have you got any thoughts about an action plan to address this situation?”
Police and Crime Commissioner Mrs Henry acknowledged the figures had gone up and added that she encouraged bystanders to call out hate crimes as well as the victims. She said: “In my police and crime plan I wanted more reporting of hate crime. I feel like we are at the tip of the iceberg with getting it reported.
“I want more people to know when they report it, how seriously we take it in Nottinghamshire police. Of those that do report it, 82 percent of them are happy with the response they get from Nottinghamshire police.
“We need to make sure hate crime is not acceptable here.” Cllr Woodings replied: “We’re in that strange situation where we want more people to report, but then it shows an increase in incidences.
“My gut instinct is that the nastiness on social media has contributed to the increase in reporting because maybe there are more incidences out there.”
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