Police-recorded transgender hate crime falls and reports of upskirting rise in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Police recorded fewer transgender hate crime offences in the year to March but there were more upskirting crimes, recent figures show.
Transgender hate crime designates criminal offences motivated by hostility or prejudice toward a person's transgender identity, whether it is perceived or actual.
Statistics from the Home Office show Lincolnshire Police recorded 46 transgender hate crime offences in the year to March, marking a decrease on 68 the previous year.
Meanwhile, police forces across England and Wales recorded 4,120 transgender hate crime offences last year.
Maxine Heron, online communications officer at Not A Phase, said: "The continued documentation on hate crimes against the trans community is essential.
"We hope any decrease in reported hate crimes is the start of a bigger drop in hate crimes against our community.
"However, we should not become complacent – we should strive for a future in which zero trans people are harmed simply for existing as who they are alongside the rest of society.
"The continued hate crimes against our community are a symptom of the long standing political and media smear campaign against all trans people, and in particular trans women."
She warned "it is very possible that a portion of hate crimes against trans people go unreported" and called for more "respect, kindness, and patience" towards minorities.
"We must collectively facilitate a society which shows the majority of society how to treat minorities – with the respect, kindness, and patience each of us deserve simply for doing the best that we can from one day to the next," she said.
"We are relieved that this report shows fewer trans people endured hate crimes during this time period, but we must collectively be part of the change in building a future where each of us can exist in society peacefully with the safety we all unequivocally deserve."
And there were more upskirting crimes reported to police in Lincolnshire last year, new figures show.
Charity Rape Crisis England and Wales said the continued prevalence of upskirting, where someone takes a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission, is "deeply troubling".
The crime became a specific offence in England and Wales in 2019. It is subject to a two year maximum prison sentence and criminals can become registered sex offenders.
Figures from the Home Office focusing on crimes that primarily target women and girls show seven upskirting offences were recorded by Lincolnshire Police in the year to June.
It was up from two the year before.
Maxime Rowson, head of policy and public affairs at Rape Crisis said: "The continued prevalence of 'upskirting' is deeply troubling.
"The increase in police-recorded offences does not necessarily mean there has been an increase in offending, as many victims and survivors do not wish to report to the police."
"However, what the figures do represent is a persistent threat to women's safety."
She added: "Upskirting, like all sexual offences, is a violation of dignity and privacy, and its continued perpetration against women and girls reflects the enduring presence of rape culture in our society."
Safeline, a charity which works to prevent sexual abuse and support survivors, said it welcomes the increase in reported crimes to the police. It added any form of sexual violence should be "met with the full force of the law".
Neil Henderson, chief executive, said: "However, the increase in upskirting crimes clearly indicates that legislation alone doesn't change the underlying sexist attitudes that drive these behaviours.
"Yes, systematic change is important, but so are the actions of each one of us. We all need to reflect more on our own biases and change them; educate ourselves and others about gender biases, call out and intervene more when we see and hear inappropriate behaviours towards others.
"Both things are needed to reduce these crimes, only one has changed," he said.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are committed to tackling violence against women and girls in all of its forms.
"We know that these crimes are underreported, and we are taking action to ensure victims get the response they deserve. This includes supporting the development of new training on non-contact sexual offences to support officers to better tackle these crimes."