Across the UK, there has been an alarming increase in reported LGBTI hate crimes. With increases from 20% to 160% in different regions across the country. Even London has seen an increase of 55% over the past 5 years. But the scarier figure is that research suggest over 80% of people who experience LGBTIQ hate crime did not even report it to Police, meaning reported hate crime is massively understated.
Stonewall UK is the longest running LGBTIQ+ rights charity in Europe. Acclaimed actor and LGBT activist, Sir Ian McKellan, was one of its founders. Stonewall UK has been watching the increases in reported homophobic and transphobic hate crime and advocating for change. Josh Bradlow, Head of Policy at Stonewall UK, joined us from London to explain what is behind these increases.