The police have reiterated their support for those who are victims of hate crimes.

They released a statement to mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which is being held between October 9 and 16.

In the statement they said: ’The island is a safe and friendly place but hate crime and incidents can occur.

’We as the Isle of Man Constabulary want you to know we will deal with matters reported to us.

’Our website has further information on hate crime/incidents and how to report them.’

Hate crimes occur when people are targeted because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity.

In the UK, record numbers of hate crimes are being recorded by police, with around three-quarters of reported offences being racially motivated.

New figures released by the Home Office show there were 124,091 hate crimes recorded in the year to March 2021, with numbers rising each year since records began in 2011-12.

The latest figures comprise 92,052 race hate crimes, 6,377 religious hate crimes, 18,596 sexual-orientation hate crimes, 9,943 disability hate crimes and 2,799 transgender hate crimes.

The Home Office said the rise has been driven by improvements in recording, growing awareness and a better identification of what constitutes a hate crime.

The Isle of Man does not have specific hate crime legislation in place.

Clare Barber, MHK for Douglas East and coordinator of Isle of Pride, says this needs to change.

She said: ’I think it’s definitely a gap that needs resolving.

’For me, the impact of crime is bad anyway, but the impact where there is hate attached to that by virtue of someone’s protected characteristics worsens the impact in many ways.

’Although I wish we didn’t need it, sadly there have been examples where we have [needed it], and there have been cases of hate crime against both members of the LGBT community that I’m aware of and also against people of colour, and I’m sure against other groups that I’m not aware of.’

She added that she was encouraged and ’delighted’ by moves being made by the Department of Home Affairs, who have committed to tackling the lack of legislation regarding hate crime.

In her recent manifesto for re-election, Mrs Barber explicitly mentioned the need for comprehensive hate crime legislation, stating that: ’We must ensure that our island is a place where the principle of equality is embedded within our policy decisions.

’It was a privilege to chair the committee that brought Pride to our island, but there is more to do.’