HATE crimes against disabled people in Sussex reached a record high last year, new figures reveal.

Disability charity Leonard Cheshire has called for tougher action on the "abhorrent" crime, after joint analysis carried out with United Response found only around 2% of disability hate incidents result in a charge or summons nationally.

Home Office data shows 320 disability hate crimes were recorded by Sussex Police in 2019-20.

That was up by 17% compared to the previous year, when 273 incidents were reported, and the highest figure since comparable records began in 2011-12.

Reports can include assault, harassment and criminal damage against someone with a physical or learning disability, or mental health problem.

Across England and Wales, 8,500 disability hate crimes were recorded over the year, with more than half involving an element of violence.

Figures exclude Greater Manchester Police, as the force still cannot supply data due to an error when implementing new IT systems last year.

Terry McCorry, a disability hate crime advocate for Leonard Cheshire, said: “This intolerable crime can seriously impact the lives of disabled people who are already marginalised by society.

"Social isolation can be a huge issue for disabled people and disability hate crime only serves to make people feel more reluctant to get out and about."

In Sussex, a total 2,872 hate crimes of any type were recorded by officers in the year to March – up 21% on 2018-19.

Disability-related incidents accounted for 11% of those, while the majority (62%) were racially motivated.

Nationally, police recorded 105,090 hate crimes in the last year – a record high, and an 8% rise on the previous year's figures.

The Home Office said the increase can be put down to improvements in recording and awareness of hate crime, but added genuine rises after events such as the EU referendum in 2016 and terror attacks the following year have also contributed.

The latest statistics come amid National Hate Crime Awareness Week, a national initiative aimed at increasing recognition of the crime and supporting those who are victims of hate.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, hate crime lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said it is still concerning to see that people are being targeted for who they are.

“Over recent years police have worked hard to improve our response to hate crime, including better recording of offences and more training for officers," he added.

“Everyone has the right to live their lives without fear of being attacked, either physically or verbally. Police take all reports of threats and abuse seriously and we will work to bring perpetrators to justice."

The Home Office said those who commit “hateful attacks should feel the full force of the law”.