One in five hate crimes in Cumbria led to action

Cumbria Police recorded 707 hate crimes in 2023, although the figure was down on the previous year

Just one in five hate crimes reported to Cumbria Police led to some type of action, figures have revealed.

The force recorded 707 hate crimes in 2023, down from 895 in 2022. But according to figures recorded between April 2023- April 2024, only 22% of hate crimes resulted in action, such as a charge or caution.

One victim, who was targeted with homophobic abuse in Carlisle, said he would not feel confident reporting another attack because of how police handled his case.

The force said there were no further lines of inquiry in the investigation. It added that the number of reports resulting in action had risen by 4% on the previous year.

It said it continued "to encourage" the public to report crimes or concerns "with confidence”.

A hate crime is an offence targeting a victim's race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

'Equity'

Seph, not his real name, told BBC Radio Cumbria he was approached by a group while walking through the city centre on 4 November following a fireworks display.

“I didn’t do anything to provoke [them]," he said.

He said someone began "squaring up for a fight", and one man threatened to cut his head off and used a homophobic slur, which left him "frightened".

"They said they had a blade on them," he added, before the group ran away.

He was interviewed the following Monday and gave police a photo he managed to take of those involved.

About two weeks later, he was told the investigation had been concluded because there was not enough evidence.

Seph has called on police to treat hate crimes with the same "equity" given to other crimes, such as vandalism, and to use a similar approach in terms of public appeals.

"If something like this happened again, I would not feel very confident calling the police and relying on them to help me any more," he told the BBC.

Cumbria Police said its inquiries did not produce any evidence, but if new information was reported it would be investigated.

"Targeting anyone for who they are is unacceptable," a spokesperson said.

“Those guilty of such crimes should expect to be held to account by the police for their actions."