Number of reported hate crimes in Sheffield increases

There were 1,356 hate offences committed in the city over the past year, a seven percent increase on previous years - according to a report by Sheffield Council.

Of those, 68 percent were related to race, 14 percent sexual orientation, eight percent disability, six percent religion and five percent transgender.

Online hate crime had risen too, by 36 percent.

Hate crime is defined as when a perpetrator demonstrates hostility towards a victim's disability, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

It can include verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, harassment, assault and bullying, as well as damage to property.

The council's safer and stronger communities scrutiny committee recently set up a cross-party group to review hate crime.

It agreed to concentrate on increasing awareness and reporting.

Part of that work included appointing a hate crime coordinator who on a daily basis checks the council and South Yorkshire Police internal systems to monitor trends in incidents.

Maxine Stavrianakos, head of neighbourhood intervention and tenant support service, wrote the report and said: "The changes recently made now include a consistent daily check of all reported incidents received within the last 24 hours by senior officers.

"This new process results in a fast track response and ensures a rapid and timely attendance to contact the victim and witnesses and immediately commence enquiries and investigation that greatly increases the possibility of a positive outcome."

The committee will discuss the report at a meeting on February 12.