Hate crime in West Yorkshire soars to record levels
Figures for July to September 2016 show the number of incidents rose by 46% - it was one of only three areas of the country to see over 1000 incidents in the months following Brexit
Record levels of hate crime were reported by West Yorkshire Police in the aftermath of last year's EU referendum, new analysis by the Press Association has shown.
The force recorded more than 1,000 incidents of hate crime, the third highest in the country - only behind London and Manchester.
Provisional figures on hate crimes published by the Home Office in October 2016 suggested that offences in July 2016 were 41% higher than in July 2015.
The new analysis shows that a rise in incidents was seen in almost every force in England and Wales, both year-on-year and when comparing the three months either side of the referendum.
No place in our society
Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams at West Yorkshire Police, said: “We understand the heightened concern in some communities and are aware of the increase in reports nationally to various agencies.
“West Yorkshire is home to richly diverse communities and I want to be clear that there is no excuse for hatred and intolerance on the grounds of race, faith, disability, sexual orientation or gender.
"We have designated hate crime coordinators in each of the five districts in West Yorkshire and we are committed to engaging with communities to increase reporting of hate crime and incidents.
“Our communities should be reassured that we and our partner agencies will provide the support and help they need. Wherever there is evidence of a crime we will seek to prosecute and even if what has happened is not a crime, people need to come forward in order they can receive the appropriate support. Behaviour of this nature has no place in our society.”