Homophobic hate crime victims 'more willing to come forward'

Michael Rothwell, of the Viaduct pub, said people had confidence in the police about reporting hate crime

A rise in homophobic hate crime figures is because victims are "now more willing to come forward", said West Yorkshire Police.

The force's figures show 160 homophobic hate crimes were recorded in the region in the seven moths to 31 July.

The annual totals for the same crime were 148 in 2013 and 152 in 2014.

Stuart Andrew, Conservative MP for Pudsey and a past victim of hate crime, said it was because people "have the confidence to come forward."

Mr Andrew said he had been knocked out in a 1998 street attack due to his sexuality and it had "a fairly profound effect" on him.

He said during his lifetime social acceptance had "completely changed" but it was still "awful" for the victims of such crimes.

'To be priority'

Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams said: "Tackling hate crime continues to be a priority.

"Training has been delivered to officers and we want to continue to do all we can to increase confidence in reporting of hate crime.

"Feedback and evidence suggests that victims are now more willing to come forward."

Michael Rothwell, landlord of the Viaduct pub in Leeds, said: "People have confidence in West Yorkshire Police to report it [hate crime]. Back in the day I don't think you did.

"Young people now do report it to the police straight away and the police investigate it."

Stonewall said the organisation had seen some "particularly violent" homophobic attacks lately in London.

Stonewall, a group campaigning for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people across Britain, said: "While it is encouraging that the increase may be due to LGBT people having increased confidence in the police, the fact that LGBT people experience such high levels of hate crime is extremely worrying.

"It shows how much there is for us to do before everyone is free to be themselves, wherever they live."

The figures, released following an FOI request by BBC Radio Leeds, list all homophobic hate crime (not subsequently cancelled) for the period shown.

2013: 148 arrests (17 people charged)

2014: 152 arrests (15 people charged)

Up to 31 July 2015: 160 arrests (10 charged)