Abraham Eshetu from Norfolk police

Reports of hate crimes have risen sharply in Norfolk as police say they are forging better links with minority communities.

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There were 167 more hates crimes, including offences involving racism and homophobia, reported in the county last year compared to the previous 12 months. This was an increase of 40pc.

The force’s diversity manager Abraham Eshetu said that rather then representing an increase in crime, the figures show a positive trend as communities which were traditionally reluctant to talk to police now feel able to come forward.

But he added that there was more work to do, particularly in reaching out to disabled people who are often victims of attacks which go unreported.

Mr Eshetu said: “Whether it is racism, homophobia or any other form of discrimination, this is an area of crime which is traditionally under-reported. It isn’t just a problem in Norfolk but across the country.

“We have worked hard to build trust and confidence. Examples involve specific events such as Operation Nicole which has provided an opportunity to develop a relationship with the Muslim community and the chief constable speaking at the Norwich Pride event. We’ve recognised this gap and tried to address it.

“These figures should be seen as progress but I would like to see them increase even further. There is no doubt that many more offences are happening which we never get to hear about.”

Hate crime includes offences such as attacks, threats or abuse based on the victim’s perceived disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

He added: “There are still communities that we need to reach. One in particular is people with disabilities.

“About 22pc of the population of Norfolk has some kind of disability and they are often victims of crimes that we never hear about.

“The message is these are crimes that we want people to report so that we get build up a real picture of what people are experiencing on a day-to-day basis.”

Mr Eshetu added that work had been carried out with other organisations, such as Norwich City Council, to make it easier to report hate crime. This means crimes can be reported through the council as well as online or by text message.

It is now possible for third parties to report a crime on behalf of a victim and control staff have been trained to identify hate crimes as soon as they are reported.

“Often these crimes can’t simply be solved by the police acting alone. By working with other agencies we can come up with a co-ordinated approach which will get to the heart of the issue and give people the confidence to come forward,” he said.

Hate crimes can be reported by phoning Norfolk police on 0845 4564567, text messaging 07786 200777 or online by visting www.norfolk.police.uk and clicking ‘report a crime’. In an emergency always dial 999.