A NEWTOWN police community support officer is encouraging people to report incidents of hate crime to stop it from happening to someone else in the community.

PCSO Graham Jennings, a hate crime support officer at Dyfed-Powys Police, said there had been an increase in hate crime reports during the coronavirus pandemic.

Victims of hate crime can be targeted due to a disability, religion or belief, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, transgender identity or age.

“Being you is not a crime. Hating you for it is,” PCSO Jennings said.

“Hate crimes and incidents continue to have a significant impact on victims, and can cause serious distress, confusion, and fear. “

PCSO Jennings said: “By their very nature hate crimes are hostile.”

Dyfed-Powys Police have a number of police officers, and PCSOs, who are trained hate crime support officers.

PCSO Jennings added: “They will always treat your complaints with sensitivity and professionalism.

“Hate crime is wrong and I urge people to report it.”

National Hate Crime Awareness Week 2020 will take place from October 10 to 17.