HATE crimes in Gwent have risen by nine per cent in the past year figures revealed today as part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

The Home Office figures revealed an 18 per cent rise in hate crimes recorded by police forces across England and Wales (2014/15 compared to the previous year). In Wales, the number of hate crimes recorded motivated by hostility towards race, religion, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation have increased by 20 per cent, from 1877 to 2259.

Levels of hate crime victim satisfaction have increased by 22 per cent over the last year in Gwent. With 90 per cent of victims reported to be satisfied with the level of service they received from Gwent Police over the last 12 months.

Mark Warrender, chair of the hate crime criminal justice board Cymru, said: "Although initially it may seem alarming that levels have risen, this doesn’t necessarily mean that more hate crime is happening – it is still estimated that 48 per cent of hate crime goes unreported, so seeing figures rise is actually a good indicator that the work we have undertaken over the last few years to raise the profile of hate crime has been successful. We still, however, have work to do."

From this week an additional 18 hate crime support officers will be working in Gwent who have received specialist training around dealing with hate crime and supporting victims. The scheme will offer victims of hate crime a single point of contact and signpost them to other support services.

Ian Johnston, the police and crime commissioner for Gwent, said: "I personally believe the increase in reported hate crime is a result of improved accuracy in recording practices and victims having the confidence to report these crimes to the police and partner agencies. We have also played an increasingly active role in raising awareness about hate crimes in Gwent by highlighting what the different types of hate crimes are and in encouraging people to report them."

For more information see the Twitter account @HateCrimeCymru