LGBTQ+ hate crimes have risen in Hertfordshire over the course of a year, new figures reveal.

In addition, fewer than one in 10 sexual orientation hate crimes led to a charge or summons in Hertfordshire last year, it is claimed.

Stonewall, an LGBT charity, want police to do more to investigate potential crimes and improve the low number of charges relative to offences across the country.

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Robbie de Santos, director of communications and external affairs at Stonewall, said society must do more to "combat anti-LGBTQ+ violence and call out abuse, harassment and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment wherever we see it".

He added: "But we also need a greater commitment from the police to take decisive action to follow up and investigate these offences."

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by data journalism agency RADAR show that in Hertfordshire, sexual orientation-motivated hate crimes rose by 29% from 200 in 2020-21 to 258 in 2021-22.

Only two areas – Northamptonshire and Suffolk – saw the number of offences fall in the same time period.

Figures also showed there were 236 sexual orientation hate crimes recorded by Hertfordshire police in 2021.

Of those, just 20 (8%) had led to a charge or summons at the time of the request.

At least 22 (9%) were dropped because a suspect could not be identified, and the victim did not support further action.

Watford Observer: LGBT flag. Picture: RADARLGBT flag. Picture: RADAR (Image: Radar AI)

And a further 30 (13%) were closed due to evidential difficulties despite a suspect being identified and the victim supporting action.

Data from the 32 forces across England and Wales that provided information on investigation outcomes shows only 1,648 (9%) of the 17,824 offences recorded in 2021 led to a charge or summons.

Leni Morris, CEO of anti-abuse charity Galop, said demand for the charity's support services has continued to rise in the last six months.

She added: "Sadly, wherever our community is more visible, this tends to result in higher levels of abuse and violence."

The National Police Chiefs' Council said it takes all reports of hate crime seriously – admitting it often goes under-reported – and will continue to "bring offenders to justice and to protect our communities from abuse".

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