Many people were shocked by the sight of two women whose bloodstained faces adorned the pages and screens of newspapers and sites recently, because they had been battered on a bus by a group of men for whom they had refused to "perform".

The data is not entirely clear on the increases in hate crime that are taking place. However, there were definitely spikes around the time of the EU referendum and the terror attacks in Westminster and Manchester for racially motivated hate crime. Race is one of five hate crimes; religion, sexual orientation, disability and crimes against trans people being the other four.

Violence begets violence, they say. The reported increase in homophobic hate crime is enormous, 144 per cent between 2013/14 and 2017/18. Part of the increase could be down to better reporting and recording, but it is an astonishing upsurge nevertheless.

Tolerance of others, irrespective of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation taught to pupils at school as part of diversity encourages attitudes of acceptance and respect for those who are different. A necessary neutraliser of hate crime.

The Equalities Act of 2010, one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed by the last Labour government, protects against discrimination in employment on the basis of religion, belief, sexual orientation and age.

It led to the development of the No Outsiders programme in schools, which teaches about tolerance and diversity. In September 2020, it will become compulsory to teach children about diverse family relationships to promote tolerance and understanding.

However, this initiative has itself become controversial and some people have protested about such lessons. As a society, we have to address this conundrum. Either we teach tolerance and understanding and reduce the propensity to hate crime in the future, or we do not: there is either equality or inequality.

Watford borough councillor Matt Turmaine represents the Holywell ward