HATE crimes, homophobic incidents and violent offences are on the rise in Dorset, new figures have revealed.

A report due to go before the Dorset Police and Crime Panel today gives a breakdown of the number of incidents from April to June this year, compared to the same period last year.

And despite reductions in anti-social behaviour, burglary, vehicle crime and serious road collisions, the figures show a shocking rise in violent incidents, alcohol-related crime and racially and religiously aggravated crime. Hate incidents also saw a worrying rise.

Last year, from April to June, 15 people were seriously hurt in violent incidents across Dorset.

This year, the figure for the same period is 39 – a 160 per cent increase.

Public place violent crime is also on the rise with 999 incidents so far this year compared to 792 last year.

And despite the report saying the figures are within ‘normal ranges’, all three months saw increases, with April and June largely responsible for the majority of the rise.

Alcohol-related crime is also on the rise from 678 incidents to 838 offences, a rise of 25 per cent.

And there was also a 40 per cent rise in racially and religiously aggravated crime with incidents increasing from 25 to 35 compared to last year.

Hate incidents rose from 74 to 87 with the report largely attributing the increase to an extra 11 reported homophobic incidents.

Increased officer training is partly to blame for the rise, the report states.

Dorset ‘blighted’ by knife problems

THE RISE in reported hate crime should be celebrated but more needs to be done to tackle the spike in violent crime and shoplifting, says the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill.

Mr Underhill said: “The Hate Crime app has led to an increase in reporting crimes, particularly within the gay community. Given that Bournemouth has the fifth largest gay community in the county, that’s very encouraging.”

Referring to the rise in violent crimes and the two separate stabbings in Bournemouth on Monday, Mr Underhill said Dorset seems to be “blighted” with knife crime.

“The knife issue goes hand in hand with drugs,” he said.