Hull transphobia victim speaks out following spike in hate crime

More than 400 incidents of hate crime have been reported to police in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire in the last 3 months alone.

The biggest spike was in July - shortly after Britain voted to leave the EU - when almost 180 incidents were recorded by Humberside Police.

Today , the issue of transphobic hate crime is being highlighted at an event in Hull.

Michelle Dee from Hull is transgender and has suffered numerous verbal and physical attacks.

She's encouraging victims not to suffer in silence and told Viking:

"I've experienced people spitting at me in the street, people throwing stones at me, I've been assaulted, nasty name calling, paint daubed on my door. People have generally just made my life a misery and it's not easy.

"It colours your view of the world, you can't help but feel like there is trouble on every street corner, no matter how many times you pick yourself up again, it does affect you. Over the years you do feel like you are not welcome and it is really difficult to deal with.

"I was attacked only two weeks ago while out with friends in a pub. A guy came across to me and tried to steal my hat and came up behind me and dragged me to the floor. I suffered some minor injuries but it shook me up and took me back to the days when I was attacked.

"These attacks do still happen, not to the extent that they once did, I haven't had a brick thrown at me in a while but the name calling, nasty looks and awkwardness that people show towards you does still occur."

Humberside Police's Diversity Panel is hosting an event at Hull University aimed at tackling transphobic Hate Crime.

The event is aimed at anyone who has experienced Transphobia, including looking at how to report a Hate Crime, what happens afterwards and how agencies deal with hate crimes and engage better with those who are most vulnerable.

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