RECORDED online disability hate crimes have more than tripled in Surrey, with incidents up from eight in 2016-17 to 25 in 2017-18.

This matches the national trend, where figures have increased 33 per cent during the same period.

These new findings were revealed by the charity Leonard Cheshire, following Freedom of Information requests to all police forces across England and Wales.

It is believed increases could be because forces have been pro-active in increasing the confidence of victims to report their experiences.

Janine Howard experienced online disability hate crime and was supported by Leonard Cheshire’s hate crime advocacy services.

She said strangers take her photo while she is out, posting it on social media “for others to comment on”.

These comments are “nasty, hurtful and leave me feeling frightened and angry,” Janine added.

David Beaman, chairman of South West Surrey Disability Empowerment Network, and a Waverley borough and Farnham town councillor, said they are “aware of a significant increase” in hate crimes against disabled people, but added the increase is “probably understated” as many cases still go unreported due to “fear or personal embarrassment”.

Mr Beaman said that “despite financial pressures”, Surrey is “taking a new approach to prevention and reduction of domestic abuse”.

In his role as portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and culture at Waverley, Mr Beaman intends to provide “as much support as possible to this initiative to not just halt but reverse this worrying trend”.

Detective chief inspector Sailesh Limbachia, Surrey Police’s force lead for hate crime, said: “Hate crime is a real priority for us; we know that even minor offences can leave lasting effects on a person and firmly believe that no one should be targeted because of who they are.”

The force has partnered with Stop Hate UK’s third party reporting service. DCI Limbachia added they want people to feel they can go to the police and feel they will be taken seriously, so are “pleased” to see an increase in reported hate crimes as it shows victims are “recognising that what has happened to them is a crime”, and “feeling confident enough to report it”.

The force’s flagging of hate crime when reported is “improving” and so identification of such crimes is getting “better and quicker”.