A Police Force held a day of celebration in support of minority groups.

Hertfordshire Constabulary marked Hertfordshire Pride 2018 with a range of activities and presentations at Gadebridge Park in Hemel Hempstead, on Saturday.

The celebration follows last year’s success in which a Rainbow Car was launched – a multi-coloured patrol car aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes among the LGBTQ community.

The event was first started six years ago.

At the weekend, the Constabulary held a stall run by police and cadets alongside members of the team’s LGBT+ Network.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall and Chief Superintendent Matt Nicholls, the Constabulary’s lead for sexual orientation and gender identity were also on hand.

The Rainbow Car was also on show as a reminder that the Constabulary values diversity.

Visitors on the day could speak with LGBT+ liaison officers and also gain advice on reporting same sex domestic abuse and hate crime.

The Constabulary said it is working to address the under reporting of LGBT+ hate crime, which it said is and “important issue” for them.

The Constabulary also said that a survey between them and the Hertfordshire Football Association earlier this year found 20 per cent of the county’s LGBT+ football fans would not feel comfortable reporting the offence if they were the victim of hate crime at a match. At the end of August officers took part in a training day to tackle such matters.

Sergeant Steve Alison, chair of the Hertfordshire Constabulary LGBT+ Network, said: “It is important that the Constabulary are visible at events like these so that the LGBT+ community can understand we are there to support them.

“I hope our attendance at this event reassures the community of our commitment to them and that they can feel confident when reporting an LGBT+ hate crime to us.

“Hate crime will not be tolerated in Hertfordshire and you will always be taken seriously and treated with sensitivity.”

If you need to report an LGBT+ hate crime, contact police via the non-emergency number 101, or online at www.herts.police.uk/Report. If a crime is ongoing, you must always call 999.

If you do not feel comfortable speaking directly to police, hate crime can also be reported online through the True Vision website at www.report-it.org.uk