REPORTS of hate crimes against transgender people have risen sharply in Swindon and Wiltshire.

The Adver has obtained figures through a Freedom of Information request revealing an increase of 1,000 per cent in crimes reported to the police from one in 2015 to 11 in 2019 in Swindon.

Community engagement and inclusion manager for Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Phoenix Stewart said the increase only represents 'the tip of the iceberg' when it comes to hate crimes against trans people.

He said: “The rise just shows the consequences of a society where transphobia is everywhere and must be challenged each and every time.

“We have seen a rise in parents asking for advice and support for their transgender children in our LGBTQ+ pop-up shop in the Brunel. More people are starting to understand transgender people but there is still a lot of education needed to stamp out ignorance.”

Wiltshire Police had already recorded seven hate crimes against transgender people in Swindon this year in July.

In the county, there were five hate crimes recorded in 2015 and 25 in 2019.

The Adver reported last week an increase in the number of homophobic attacks in Wiltshire in the past five years.

“Reporting a hate crime doesn’t just help you, but it also helps others in the community,” added Phoenix.

“It helps build a more accurate picture of the hate crimes the LGBTQ+ community face on a daily basis. By someone committing a hate crime they are breaking the law and this law needs to be enforced.”

Hate crime is an act of violence based on someone’s race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Insp Simon Cowdrey said: “We are trying to educate the public on being mindful of discrimination, as well as encouraging those who need to report it. We appreciate that not everybody wants to phone the police but there are other means of reporting such as online and Crimestoppers.

“The message to victims of hate crime is please come forward tell us and allow us the opportunity to support you and to try to find solutions to ending hate crime in Swindon and Wiltshire has a whole.”