PC Mark Carter, Mr Gay UK, is lending his support to the launch of the latest Hate Crime Reporting Centre in Kirklees at the popular Bar Nefertiti in Huddersfield.

The McPherson Report into the death of black teenager Stephen Lawrence recommended the creation of reporting centres as venues, other than police stations, where hate incidents can be reported. The first centres were set up in 2002 and there are now over 50 across the authority.

Cllr Khizar Iqbal, Kirklees Council’s portfolio holder for safer communities, welcomed the opening: ‘From a crime statistics point of view, hate incidents are hugely under-reported and it is important that people start coming forward’

Announcing the latest centre, Javier Santana-Acosta, Strategic Diversity Officer for Kirklees Safer Communities Service, said: ‘Since 2002, over 1,500 reports have been made via reporting centres in West Yorkshire. Victims of hate incidents are often left alone and unsupported and these reports may not have been received if the centres were not there. The initiative offers victims of homophobic hate crime an opportunity to report the incident and also to seek extra support.’

James Cole from Bar Nefertiti says that he wanted his venue to become involved in the scheme because he feels there may be people who have experienced hate incidents, but would feel uncomfortable going to a police station to report them: ‘As people become familiar with a local bar and get to know the staff they are more likely to talk about subjects which are often quite difficult to discuss.’

Welcoming the latest centre, PC Mark Carter said; ‘If minority groups are unlikely to report incidents then the police can't do their job correctly. The police are gaining ground; times are changing and I am happy to be part of this change.’