HATE crime figures in Hampshire have skyrocketed to an all time high, it has been revealed.

Police reported 463 incidents of hate crime between July and September last year – the highest quarterly figure since comparable records began in April 2012.

The new research, conducted by the Press Association, also shows the amount of incidents is up 33 per cent on the previous quarter of April to June 2016.

And, of the 44 police forces, Hampshire had the seventh highest amount of hate crimes, beaten only by Merseyside (477), the British Transport Police (620), West Midlands (923), West Yorkshire (1,013), Greater Manchester (1,033) and the Metropolitan Police (3,356).

However, when asked for comment, Hampshire police said it could not confirm the figures.

A spokesperson added: "Hampshire Constabulary is committed to investigating all crime and incidents which are motivated by hate."

The newly revealed figures come just weeks after 11 Hampshire organisations were awarded £30,000 to help tackle hate crime.

Hampshire Constabulary’s police and crime commissioner Michael Lane gave the grants of between £300 and £3,000 in a bid to alleviate the rise in crimes motivated by racial, sexual or other prejudice.

Some of the groups that received the grants included Communities First Wessex (£2,952) for ‘Love Diversity,’ which offers mental health and emotional support to young LGBT people and Southampton’s Awaaz FM Community Radio (£2,000) to broadcast programmes on how to talk about hate crime.

Regarding the recent findings, Mr Lane said he considers any form of hate crime as "unacceptable".

"I am concerned about any increase in reported crime, particularly such as this which impacts upon vulnerable groups in our community," he added.

"Any hate crime is unacceptable and addressing this is very important to me; in fact it was the focus of my first specific funding round, and over £100,000 is being invested to tackle hate crime to date. I am working with the multi-agency hate crime working group to identify future priorities for partnership investment and collaborative working.”

Police forces in England and Wales can class five types of racially or religiously aggravated offences as hate crimes: assault with injury; assault without injury; harassment; public fear, alarm or distress; and other criminal damage.