HATE crime is on the increase in the town, with racist abuse the biggest problem, according to latest police figures.

A freedom of information by the Warrington Guardian has revealed attacks surrounding race, religion, disability, and sexuality are on the up.

There have been 191 hate crime incidents this year, up until September. Thirty people were arrested, with 19 charged.

That is the same figure as the whole of 2012, and one more than in 2011, when 18 were charged.

Since October 2010, 114 hate crime arrests have been made, with 63 suspects charged.

The youngest was 11, and the oldest 61.

The most common form of offending is racist threats, abuse and slurs.

Police say the increase is not cause for concern and blame it on victims of hate crime gaining confidence to come forward.

Sgt Lee Harrison, from Cheshire Police, said: “Cheshire Police welcomes the increase in reports of hate crime because we believe we are increasing the confidence of people in reporting it.

“Without a doubt racism is the biggest problem that gets reported.

“There also issues with domestic incidents, criminal damage, assaults and graffiti.

“We have put in a lot of work around action over hate crime to tackle this issue.”

However, some attacks were more serious.

In December 2010, a 25-year-old man was arrested for racially or religiously aggravated GBH.

A 28-year-old man was arrested for the same offence in January 2012, and a 43-year-old man was arrested for racially aggravated beating.

An 11-year-old boy was arrested in August 2011 for beating a 43-year-old woman, while in November 2012 two women - aged 24 and 31 - were arrested for racially or religiously aggravated assault.

This year, four arrests have been made for beating and assault that was racially or religiously aggravated.

Police work with partners like Warrington Borough Council to encourage victims to speak out.

“There is now a single point of contact, a sergeant in each neighbourhood unit, to deal with hate crimes,” said Sgt Harrison.

“We did this in order to identify victims and make sure they are supported properly.

“It’s all about finding vulnerable people and making sure we take the right approach.

“I’d encourage anyone to report any incident of hate crime.”

To report hate crime call police on 101.

TAXI drivers are the biggest victims of hate crime, according to Cheshire Police.

CSO Kathryn Harkin has been working with ranks in the town to stamp out the problem.

She said: “There has been an increase in people being racially abusive towards taxi drivers.

“People get picked up in the early hours of the morning, they are drunk and offensive comments are made.

“Some drivers say verbal racist abuse has been aimed towards them - some of it is ignored but some of it is quite hurtful for them.

CSO Harkin has spent time visiting taxi companies to talk to staff, with posters and stickers provided for cabs warning anyone being abusive will be arrested.

She added: “In the past they may have felt like they couldn’t report it, but because of the work we have done they feel more comfortable to come forward.

“Even thought there has been an increase it is in a positive way because more drivers are happy to speak to police.”

OFFICIALS at Warrington Ethnic Community Association say racism is a problem in the town, but that it is determined to help stamp it out.

Pritam Singh is secretary at the charity and says the Polish, Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities are targeted.

“We hear stories about what happens, and taxi drivers are victims on a regular basis.

“The typical one is that people are suffering racist slurs.

“You are not Hindu or Indian, you are called by the same racist slurs we are all familiar with.

“It’s always the same bad language that is aimed at us.

“People are ignorant, especially when there is a group of four or five saying the same thing.”

Mr Singh is calling for people to ‘come together’ to stop the problem.

“The problem of racism should not exist.

“We are involved with the police and have a good relationship with them to address these kinds of issues.

““We are here to help ethnic communities that are beign victimised.

“If people come to us with any problems we can help them.

“There are many ways to address it - bringing cultures together is the most important.

“People coming together, over music or food or sharing culture, is the only way.”

If you need support over race problems, call the WECA on 419495.