Data presented to council reveals rise in hate crime across borough

HATE crime reports across a North East borough are climbing, fresh police statistics shared with local councillors have revealed.

- By Chris Binding Local democracy reporter

The data was examined during a recent gathering of South Tyneside Council's Our Place Scrutiny Committee as part of a briefing on public protection and crime and disorder.

Police statistics presented during the session showed that South Tyneside logged 334 hate crimes over the past 12 months, representing a 2.4% jump from the previous year's figure of 326.

The data covered a rolling 12 months period, with officials noting the pattern mirrors national trends, where the UK experienced a 2% rise to 137,550 hate crimes, the council confirmed.

According to Northumbria Police's website, hate crime typically falls under three primary categories: physical assault, verbal abuse and incitement to hatred, with incitement offences potentially encompassing "words, pictures, videos, music, and includes information posted on websites".

Worries regarding the local spike in hate crime were previously highlighted during September's Riverside Community Area Forum (CAF) session, which encompasses South Tyneside's Beacon and Bents, West Park, Simonside and Rekendyke and Westoe wards.