Homophobia was behind one in eight hate crimes recorded in Hertfordshire last year, figures reveal.

Home Office data shows Hertfordshire Constabulary recorded 200 LGBTQ+ related hate crimes in the year to March – 10 fewer than the year before.

It means that while such hate crimes decreased, someone's sexual orientation was a motivating factor in 12 per cent of the 1,627 hate crimes recorded in Hertfordshire last year.

The figures also show that transphobia was a factor in 34 hate crimes recorded in Hertfordshire last year.

Police can record more than one motivating factor behind an offence.

In England and Wales, transphobic hate crimes more than doubled in the last five years, from 1,195 in 2016-17 to 2,630 last year, while sexual orientation crimes increased from 8,569 to 17,135.

Superintendent Clare Smith, who is Hertfordshire Constabulary’s lead for LGBT+, said: “Homophobia, along with biphobia and transphobia too, has no place in Hertfordshire and we are committed to supporting the county’s LGBT+ community.

“Historically, hate crimes and hate incidents targeting the LGBT+ community have gone unreported and so it is encouraging to see that victims are coming forward. We have been working hard with our local third party reporting centres to make reporting easier.

“I would like to stress to the LGBT+ community, that if you are the target of a hate crime or a hate incident, Hertfordshire Constabulary will always be there to listen and to help you. The courts can impose more severe sentences for people who have committed hate crime and we will do everything we can to get you justice. We also have specially trained LGBT+ Liaison Officers who are dedicated to making sure you feel supported at every step of the way. Nobody deserves to live their life in fear because of their sexuality or gender identity.”

The Home Office said that while the biggest drivers behind the rises were improvements in police recording and increased willingness from victims to come forward, the Government "could not be complacent", and a new hate crime strategy will be published this year.

Charity Stonewall says the true scale of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ victims may be much higher, due to many incidents going unreported.

Across England and Wales there were 115,000 hate crimes recorded in general – which can include hostility linked to race, religion, disabilities, sexual orientation and transgender identity.

In Hertfordshire there were 1,267 racially motivated incidents, 103 disability-related hate crimes and 125 offences linked to religion.

Around three-quarters of hate crimes recorded in England and Wales last year were racially motivated.

The Government said it is committed to tackling hate crime and recent efforts include working to improve recording of crime, funding for anti-bullying interventions in schools and producing resources to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ abuse.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “All forms of hate crime are completely unacceptable.

"The cowards who commit them should feel the full force of the law."

  • Victims do not have to contact police directly to report a crime. They can report at a number of third party reporting centres in Hertfordshire or online at www.report-it.org.uk. More information about hate crime and third party reporting centres can be found at www.hertsagainsthate.org. 

LGBT+ Liaison Officers can be reached by calling the non-emergency number 101 or by contacting Hertfordshire police online. In an emergency or if a crime is on-going, report it immediately via 999.  The support of an LGBT+ Officer can then be requested if required. We will treat what you tell us sensitively and in confidence. 

To contact an LGBT+ Officer in your local area for non-urgent advice ring 101 and ask to leave a message for them to contact you.