The number of hate crimes reported to Wiltshire Police has increased over the last year. 

A total of 902 hate crimes were reported in the year ending March 31, 2022, up from 753 in the previous year.

The most common hate crime reported to Wiltshire Police was racial, followed by sexual orientation and disability.

Transgender and religious reasons were also on the list.

Inspector James Williams, Tactical Lead for Hate Crime, said: “The Home Office statistics record a 26 per cent increase in the reporting of hate crimes in England and Wales. There were a total 155,841 crimes recorded by the Police.

"The reported increase in Wiltshire and Swindon was anticipated following the pandemic when the rate of increase slowed due to the lockdowns. Although the 16.5 per cent increase in reporting in Wiltshire is lower than the national average, and the lowest level in the South-West, we are not complacent and encourage all those who are victims of a hate crime or witness a hate crime to report it.

“We have worked hard to encourage such reporting and officers and staff have also been building relationships with our communities that are most likely to fall victim of hate crime. However, we know the figures are unlikely to represent the true picture and we need to address the underreporting.”