Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans (LGBT) history month takes place in February every year and celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.
Sussex Police will be hosting a live web chat to mark the event.
The live chat will give members of the public a chance to put questions to a panel giving advice and support on all LGBT issues, the law and policing, as well as hate crime.
On the panel will be Hate Crime Sergeant Peter Allan, along with Brighton and Hove LGBT team members LGBT Police Liaison Rory Smith and the new LGBT Community Police Officer, PC Sarah Laker.
The session will run on Friday, February 20 between 7.30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
To join the online chat, click here:
The Gay British Crime Survey 2013, produced by Stonewall, stated that 75% of people who had experienced a hate crime or incident had not reported it to the police. 66% of those surveyed claimed they had not reported it to anyone. When questioned further on reasons for not reporting, 41% said they did not feel it was a serious enough issue to report.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Jones, who leads for Sussex Police on hate crime, said: “Hate crime can have a devastating effect on victims and causes fear among communities and residents.
“Sussex Police is committed to ensuring that all incidents of hate crime are correctly identified and recorded as such by our staff and officers and we work closely with community groups and partners to increase reporting, widen awareness and build confidence with victims, to help bring offenders to justice.
“We urge anyone who feels they have been a victim of hate crime or targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity to report it to us immediately.
“This could include physical attacks, damage to property, offensive graffiti, abusive or obscene phone calls, verbal abuse, insults or threats, abusive gestures, the posting of offensive letters or leaflets, or theft and fraud.”
To report a hate crime or hate incident online, click here:
Or telephone 101.
If the crime is still in progress or there is the threat of danger always call 999.