Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC) has funded a new tool to make reporting ‘cowardly’ hate crime easier.

The reporting service is run by charity Stop Hate UK – which says all forms of hate crime are ‘significantly under-reported’ with people unwilling to speak to police.

In 2025/26, there were 1,278 reports of hate crime in the county, down 3 per cent from the previous year. There has also been an increase in solved hate crimes of nearly a quarter compared to last year.

But while there has been a fall in reporting, it does not necessarily mean a drop in overall incidents of hate crime.

Stop Hate UK allows people to report hate crime safely, confidentially and without having to contact the police.

John Tizard said: “Hate crime is a direct attack on someone for their ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity. It is wrong and it is harmful. It has absolutely no place here in Bedfordshire.

“Those who commit these awful crimes are criminal and they are cowardly. Stop Hate UK can make reporting hate crime easier.

“I want every person in Bedfordshire, whatever their background, wherever they live to know that they will be supported, they will be believed, and they will be taken seriously.”

Rose Simkins, chief executive of Stop Hate UK, said: “Hate is on the rise in the UK, but we know that all forms of Hate Crime are significantly under-reported and that individuals and even whole communities are often reluctant or unwilling to talk to the police or their council. They do not know who to turn to when they are targeted. They think that no one cares, but we do. This is why my team work 24 hours a day 365 days per year to provide people with a safe, confidential, independent space to get support.

“By funding our independent service, the Police and Crime Commissioner is demonstrating a commitment to ensuring that all residents and visitors to Bedfordshire do have somewhere to go when they experience Hate. We are open when other services may be closed or busy and we give people an easy way to report or access support. We are committed to working with agencies and organisations across the county to create a safer environment for us all.”