The UK has seen a 462% increase in sexual orientation hate crime reports since 2012 (Picture: Metro)
With the Government clamping down on LGBTQ+ rights, it no surprise the number of hate crime reports has shot up.
The UK, which once used to be one of Europe’s most welcoming places to be gay, has seen a 462% increase in sexual orientation hate crime reports since 2012.
The number of reports regarding transphobia has shot up even further with a 1,426% increase, according to the House of Commons Hate Crime Statistics report.
This is a jump from 310 reports recorded in 2012, to 4,732 last year.
Some areas of the UK experience more homophobia on average, with Merseyside Police receiving 3,346 per 100,000 people last year.
West Yorkshire and West Midlands also saw high numbers of reports, receiving 2,591 and 2,502 reports respectively.
The number of reports of transphobia were even higher, with the Gwent police force area receiving 4,263 last year.
Areas with the highest level of hate crime reports by sexual orientation
In 2023, the police force areas with the highest average of hate crime reports per 100,000 people were:
Merseyside – 3,346
West Yorkshire – 2,591
West Midlands – 2,502
South Yorkshire – 2,334
Greater Manchester – 2,133
Cheshire – 2,068
Kent – 2,056
North Wales – 1,951
Essex – 1,922
Gwent – 1,919
Caption:Map of most homophobic spots in the UKCopyright: METRO / GETTY
Hampshire and Gloucestershire received the next two highest averages, with 4,192 and 3,909 reports made respectively.
But it is feared these figures are in reality much higher, with charity Galop claiming more than 90% of anti-LGBT hate crime goes unreported.
Ruth Mason, Director of Services at LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop, said: ‘Galop runs the National LGBT+ Hate Crime Helpline, so we know that these figures are a poor representation of the reality of hate crime for LGBT+ people.
‘In 2023, we saw a 65% increase in LGBT+ victims of hate crime coming to us for support.
‘The true extent of anti-LGBT+ hate crimes in this country is simply unknown, as the majority of LGBT+ hate crimes are not officially reported.
The number of reports regarding transphobia has shot up even further with a 1,426% increase (Picture: Metro/Getty)
‘The Government’s 2017 LGBT Survey shows that over 90% of anti-LGBT hate crimes go unreported, and Galop’s own research mirrors this.’
Detective Superintendent Paul Lamb of Merseyside Police said: ‘We believe we have received more reports because of our proactive engagement with the LGBTQ+ community and their confidence to come forward and report a crime to us.
‘They know that they will be fully supported throughout the investigation, and it will be handled sensitively.’
Last year, RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne suffered a homophobic attack at a McDonald’s in Liverpool.
Alan Whitfield, 51, admitted assault by beating on James Lee Williams, who performs as drag queen The Vivienne.
Mr Williams said he had been subjected to a ‘barrage of abuse’ from Whitfield after entering the McDonald’s on Edge Lane in Liverpool on June 16.
Areas with the highest level of transgender hate crime reports
In 2023, the police force areas with the highest average of hate crime reports per 100,000 people were:
Gwent – 4,263
Hampshire – 4,192
Gloucestershire – 3,909
North Wales – 3,389
Essex – 3,123
Merseyside – 3,091
Northumbria – 3,018
Sussex – 3,000
West Yorkshire – 2,877
West Mercia – 2,838
Recalling the abuse, Mr Williams said: ‘He carried on, then after the fourth “look at the state of you” I said “look at the state of you”, I said “look at the state of your face”, to which he said “I’ve got skin cancer” and then punched me straight in the face.’
Gwent Police said: ‘No-one should be subjected to hate based on their gender identity and we work closely with our trans community to ensure they are treated with both respect and dignity and have the confidence to come forward to report hate crimes to us.
‘In Gwent, we handle all cases sensitively and the number of offences remain low; we had 89 transphobic hate crimes reported to us in 2022 and 60, a reduction on the previous 12 months, in 2023.
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‘The number of reports we receive is largely down to our proative work in building trust and positive relationships within our communities, and we fully encourage any victims of hate crimes across our communities to contact us on 101 or direct message us on our Facebook or X pages.’
It comes as the International lesbian, gay, Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association annual rainbow ranked the UK 16th out of 49 European countries on their legal and policy practices for LGBTQ+ people.
Factors include the government not following through on their promises to ban conversion therapy, and NHS banning the use of puberty blockers on children.
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