Fewer people are being prosecuted for homophobic hate crimes despite rising numbers of potential victims coming forward, figures suggest. Recorded reports of homophobic abuse in the UK increased from 5,807 in 2014-15, to 13,530 in 2018-19. But during the same period, the number of prosecutions fell from 1,157 to 1,058 - from 20% of all reports to 8%.
The National Police Chiefs' Council said those cases often involved a lack of witnesses and evidence. It comes as police forces continue to call on victims to come forward.
Analysis by Ben Hunte, LGBT Correspondent
These new figures will disappoint the LGBT community but they will not be a great surprise to many. With Pride parades regularly taking place in many UK cities, on the surface it seems like society is much more accepting of LGBT people living their lives. In reality, however, every single day LGBT people across the UK are contacting the police about verbal and physical abuse they experience just because of their sexuality.
A number of abuse victims have told me the process of trying to convict their abusers has put them off. They have gone as far as dropping their cases in fear of having to recount traumatic experiences, or being inadvertently outed to their friends, family or employers. Trips to police stations, as well as calls and visits from police officers to discuss their LGBT abuse experiences can be daunting if that person is not actually open about their LGBT status.
They say that all too often it is difficult to prove that an assault was motivated by hostility towards the victim's sexuality or gender identity, so attackers currently get off with lighter sentences. Read more via BBC
Homophobic hate crime: Beaten-up for being gay
Jarek was beaten and hospitalised in a homophobic attack after a night out in February 2019. "I thought London was the best place to be happy and safe and gay - until I was beaten up," he said.
A BBC 5 Live investigation found the number of hate crime reports across the UK more than doubled in the last five years, to over 13,000. But the number of cases that led to charges or court summons being issued fell by 10% in the same time, to 1,047. Read more via BBC