REPORTS of hate crimes are on the rise...as the number of people being prosecuted for attacks hits an all-time low.

The Echo can reveal 368 offences took place across south Essex in the first seven months of this year - compared to 392 in the whole of 2015.

Figures released via a Freedom of Information Request show more incidents took place in Southend than anywhere else in the county.

Hate crimes are motivated by racial, sexual, religious or other prejudice, and typically involve violence.

Statistics show there has been a steep decline in the number of offenders being brought to justice.

Between January and August this year, 95 people were charged or taken to court- meaning 273 cases are currently unresolved.

Last year there were 183 charges or courts summons, compared to 319 in 2014.

Marc McOwens, hate crime lead at disability charity Southend Mencap, believes the spike in reported incidents is due to increased awareness and confidence among victims to speak out.

He said: “At the charity, we help to educate people on the crime.
“When someone comes to us with reports of hate crime we then flag it up with a hate crime officer.

“These spikes you see are down to more people being willing to come forward and taking a stand against hate crime.”

Mr McOwens said the most recent case he has dealt with involved a man aged in his 40s who had suffered 18 years of verbal abuse and vandalism to his property.

So far this year, there have been 183 reports of hate crime in Southend and 138 in Basildon.

Castle Point and Rochford have had fewer recorded incidents, with 31 and 16 cases respectively- but both borough are set to see a year-on-year rise.

A significant amount of the incidents are believed to have been racially motivated- although a specific breakdown for different areas was not released by Essex Police.

In the first seven months of this year 830 incidents were reported across the whole of the county- compared to 862 throughout 2015.

Hate crime against disabled people is also set to rise, with 100 cases already reported in 2016, compared to 111 last year.

A spokesman for Essex Police said the force takes all instances seriously and the figures mirror a national trend. 

She added the increase is down to a greater public awareness coupled with people's growing confidence in police. 

She continued: "There is no evidence to suggest that any increase has been specifically and directly caused by any one event or issue, such as the EU referendum.

"Whether it’s an incident that takes place online or in the street, it’s important to let us know about hate crime to give us a chance to investigate and prosecute offenders and to ensure that victims and the wider community are protected.

"We can’t deal with the problem unless it is reported to us so we need anyone experiencing hate crime or knows someone who is to tell us about it."

To report an emergency call 999 or 101 for non-urgent cases.

Alternatively log it on the police website.  

Police and crime commissioner Roger Hirst did not respond to requests from the Echo for a comment.