VICTIMS of hate crimes are being urged to speak out and report incidents to the police.

With just one in five hate crimes being reported in Devon, local agencies say more needs to be done to improve trust so that victims come forward.

The move comes just two months after Dart­mouth councillor Ben Cooper was the victim of a homophobic attack outside a pub during regatta.

Cllr Cooper, who represents the Townstal ward and is the only Labour councillor on South Hams Council, was punched in an unprovoked assault.

He blacked out for 10 minutes after banging his head when he fell to the ground and was taken to Torbay Hosp­ital by ambulance for treatment.

Police said the incident happended when the offender came out of a public house and shouted a homophobic insult before punching Cllr Cooper in the face.

A man was arrested, but at the request of Cllr Cooper the offence was dealt with by way of restorative justice.

Police say there has been a rise in the reporting of hate crimes following progress made to gain the trust of minority groups and in raising awareness of hate crimes.

But under-reporting means that crimes against disabled or gay people or people of minority race, for ex­ample, are going unnoticed, leaving victims unsupported and perpetrators unchallenged.

Devon Hate Crime Awareness Week be­gins tomorrow and the members of the Safer Devon Partnership have funded events and activities across the county to focus attention to the issues and to encourage people to report hate crime to the police.

The programme of events, all free to at­tend, is available online at http://www.devon.gov.uk/">www.devon.gov.uk/

hcawdevon2014.pdf, or by emailing dave.

[email protected]">[email protected] or telephoning 07971 267502.

Last year, 603 hate crimes and incidents were reported to Devon and Cornwall Police. National research suggests that the actual number of incidents could be as much as five times that level.

The Safer Devon Partnership has been working with the police and with local communities to improve trust and to encourage victims to report.

As a result, disablist hate crime rose by almost 400 per cent, from 13 incidents reported across Devon in 2011/12 to 64 incidents reported in 2013/14. Other significant rises in reporting have been seen for homophobic crime and transphobic crime.

Within the county, south Devon recorded the highest overall increase in reports to the police last year, with an additional 112 hate crimes reported.

Loraine Engstrom, South Devon service delivery manager for Victim Support, said: 'We find that victims of hate crime have feelings of persecution and helplessness. The ripple effect on their family, friends and the wider community has a far-reaching impression.

'At Victim Support, we help them to overcome the impact of crime by providing emotional and practical support, as well as help through the court process.'

Cllr Barry Parsons, the county council's community spokesman, which co-ordinated the programme of events, said: 'We are taking part in National Hate Crime Awareness week to continue the process of increasing awareness of Devon's diversity, of helping more people to understand what hate crime is, and encouraging victims to report.

'I am delighted to see so many voluntary and community sector orga­nisations working to­gether.

'Hate crime is a serious problem in society. No one should have to endure verbal or physical abuse because they are seen as different.'