THE number of racially-motivated crimes in York this year has already passed the 2008 figure, with more than three months of 2009 remaining.

The statistics, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, reveal that compared with the 52 racially aggravated harassment incidents during 2008, attacks on ethnic minority groups in the city have shot up to 55 in the first nine months of this year.

The new figures show that race-related crime across the city has increased by 458 per cent in six years.

The Micklegate and Guildhall wards in York showed the most reported incidents – with 16 and 12 cases respectively so far this year – compared with 11 and 15 cases respectively last year.

Coun James Alexander, Labour candidate for York Outer at the next general election – who requested the data from North Yorkshire Police – said City of York Council should do more to combat the problem.

He said: “The council needs to realistically take into account how our population is changing and give more support to the sustainability of communities in the interest of both existing and new residents. I think this must include explaining more clearly how social housing is allocated.”

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police are making it easier for victims of hate crime to blow the whistle on offenders by offering an alternative to going to the police station.

Victims can instead visit one of the the 85 hate crime reporting centres across North Yorkshire – many of them in local libraries. The centres are also located in other public buildings – such as housing association offices and community centres.

They are designed to provide an informal environment for victims of hate crime who may not want to visit a police station to report incidents they have experienced or concerns they have. Chief Inspector Nick Hunter said: “The ability to go to a building, such as a community centre to speak to someone provides a much more relaxed environment for them to report an incident or any concerns they have.”

Police define a crime as racially-motivated if the offender displays hostility based on the victim’s race or if the offence is motivated to any degree by hostility towards members of a racial group.