This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Surrey Police is supporting the campaign to put an end to hate crime in the county.

Last year in Surrey nearly 1000 hate crimes were reported to police.  That is an increase of almost 300 from the year before.

The Home Office suggests the actual number of incidents could be almost four times those reported as many people do not want to come forward.

A hate crime is any that targets a person because of a hostility or prejudice towards that person in relation to their disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender identity and the crime can take many forms.

You can join the conversation by following #HateCrime on the Surrey Police Twitter and Facebook page.