By Naomi Doddridge
Between July and September last year Dorset police lodged 104 hate crime offences according to new statistics.
The figures show that after the Brexit vote hate crimes across Dorset saw the highest increase in the country since records begun in 2012.
The UK voted to leave the European Union on the 23rd of June.
It’s not only Dorset police who have seen the number of complaints doubled in the last six months with 10 other forces also seeing an increase.
Forces across the UK will be putting protection in place for the vulnerable communities ahead of Prime Minister Theresa May triggering Article 50 next month.
This follows on from a dramatic increase in the amount of racially and religiously motivated crimes reported to the police in June after the Brexit result.
The majority of these crimes were thought to be either arson or attacks.
Whilst Dorset has seen the highest number in increase it is still seen as relatively low in comparison with the West Midlands police who have 923 crimes reported to them in the six-month period with an increase of 27%.
Police forces have identified five areas which are considered to be hate crimes. They are; assault with injury, assault without injury, harassment – public fear, alarm or distress and other areas of criminal damage.
Police are urging people who have been a victim of a hate crime, no matter how small to get in touch with them.
If you believed that you have been a witness or have experienced a hate crime get in touch with Dorset Police by contacting crime stoppers. In the case of an emergency dial 999.