REDDITCH residents are being encouraged to report hate crimes after a national spike in incidents following Brexit.

Hate crimes count as any incidents where people are targeted because of their disability, race, colour, religion, beliefs, ethnic origin, national origin, sexual orientation, transgender identity or age, and the council is hoping to encourage more people to report these types of crime when they occur.

This can include a person’s property, as well as the person themselves, and they do not have to be a member of a group to which hostility is targeted.

Chairman of the North Worcestershire Hate Incident Partnership Ken Hazeledene said: "Following the Brexit vote on the 23rd June, a number of articles have been in the press about hate crime and as a partnership we felt it was important to make sure residents had the details to be able to report any incident, whether they are the victim, or a witness. Besides a significant impact on victims it can also affect their family, friends and people in the community.

"These incidents are not right and we encourage everyone to report these crimes. Such feelings of fear and anxiety can impact on a person’s confidence and in turn make them afraid of reporting an incident. Remember you do not have to tolerate hate and reporting any incident, no matter how minor, can make a difference."

"No one should have to live in fear and all hate crime should be reported."

Councillor Yvonne Smith, whose portfolio covers community safety, added: "Hate crime is never acceptable and we should always stand together against it. If you see or know of any incident, please, please, please, report it. Don’t leave it to someone else to report because then the crimes will continue."

Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a hate incident, can report it to police on the non-emergency number 101 or in an emergency 999. Alternatively they can pick up a form from Worcestershire Hubs across North Worcestershire, visit unitedagainsthate.co.uk or call 0300 3038838.