THE number of religiously-motivated hate crimes in Gwent rocked by 171 per cent between April 2017 and March 2018 in comparison with the previous year.

Home Office figures show 19 incidents of hate crime where religion was an inciting factor were recorded by Gwent Police over the 12-month period, up from seven the previous year.

The total number of hate crime incidents in Gwent has more than doubled over the past five years - although this is partially down to the way crimes are recorded. Spikes were seen in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, and terrorist attacks such as those at Manchester Arena and Westminster Bridge.

The number of racially-motived hate crimes was also up 41 per cent between April 2017 and March 2018, with 397 cases recorded in Gwent in the past year. The number where disability was a motivating factor, rose from 46 to 88.

Gwent Police's lead for hate crime Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Warrender, who also chairs the Hate Crime and Criminal Justice Board Cymru

“Hate crime has no place in our society and we know these crimes can have a disproportionately negative impact on victims and entire communities," he said. "We also know hate crimes and incidents are significantly under reported and so we have worked hard over the last few years to improve reporting and recording of hate crimes as well as investing in the support we provide to victims.

"The UK has seen an increasing in reporting over the last few years and Gwent Police has experienced the same trend. The increases nationally is thought to be largely driven through improved police recording and spikes following certain events such as the EU referendum and terrorist attacks.

"Our particular focus in Gwent on hate crime awareness, reporting and recording has resulted in increases greater than most other areas in the UK and we see this very much as a positive result. Our focus on victim support has also translated into very high victim satisfaction rates."

He added: "Although we have seen an increase in reports of religiously motivated hate crime, we know that the numbers still do not reflect the lived experiences of people in Gwent.

"Whilst we are pleased that we have started to see people finding the confidence to tell us when they have been targeted, I would continue to encourage anyone who feels they have been a victim of hate crime to report it and let us help you."

Across England and Wales as a whole more than half of recorded hate crimes were committed against Muslims.

Fiyaz Mughal, founder of Tell Mama, a project which measures anti-Muslim attacks, said he was “not surprised” by the increase.

“There has been a perfect storm of the political mainstreaming of Islamophobia, terrorist attacks, the rise of the far right and abuse that’s allowed on social media," he said.

“Social media companies have come a long way, however they need to get quicker at banning people who post anti-Muslim content."

He added he believes the key is educating children from an early age to be tolerant to other religions.

“According to our data, the most common age group of people committing Islamophobic hate crime are aged 13 to 18," he said. "This is why working with teachers and schools is so important.”

Anti-Semitism was the second most common type of religious hate crime.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews president, Marie van der Zyl, said the figures “must serve as an urgent call to action”.

“All of us – faith leaders, politicians, and the media – should today step up our efforts to stamp out this cancer in our society,” she said.

“The Jewish community will continue to work in solidarity with Muslims and people of all faiths. We cannot let Britain become a place where a hijab or a kippah marks someone out as a target.”

Any incidents of hate crime can be reported to police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Victim's hub Connect Gwent is also available on 0300 123 2133 or via connectgwent.org.uk

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111 or crimstoppers-org.uk