Crackdown on hate crimes

North Wales Police hopes the forms will make a difference

Victims of so-called hate crimes in Wales are now able to report any incidents without giving their name.

Police have created a self-reporting form, which allows people from minority groups to remain anonymous following an attack motivated by their race, religion or sexuality.

The forms will not be admissible in evidence.

But police say they will help officers to target those who commit hate crimes in the future.

Ash Ghani works in a small shop in Holyhead on Anglesey, and has suffered from years of racial harassment by a small minority.

He said his experience has not been improved by the way the police and legal services have dealt with his complaints.

"People are still giving me racial abuse," he said.

Shopkeeper Ash Ghani is a victim of racial abuse

"They've been charged but the police were very lenient with them, and they came back and did it again and they continue doing it."

Many people are scared of reporting racial crimes, and the hate crime forms will allow victims of racial, religious, or homophobic abuse to provide information anonymously.

John Sam Jones from the Police Liaison Committee is hopeful that they will make a difference.

"There's an awful lot of under-reporting because the gay and lesbian community have a tradition of not trusting the police," he said.

The message we want to give out is we care, we take it seriously, and we will investigate

Clive Wolfendale, North Wales Police

"This is because of the kind of sexual offence laws that have existed, and are currently under review."

Clive Wolfendale from North Wales Police said people should not be scared to come forward.

"There certainly has been an issue where people haven't had the confidence they should have in the police to investigate these matters and take them seriously," he said.

The message we want to give out is we care, we take it seriously, and we will investigate."