NEW figures reveal there was an increase in hate crimes this June this year compared to 2015.

They were obtained by a Freedom of Information request by Viridian Housing and showed that there were 219 hate crimes in June this year according to Hampshire Constabulary compared to 171 in the same month last year - an increase of 28 per cent.

Nationally across the country there was a spike in racist incidents following the EU referendum vote on June 23.

In Hampshire after the result community leaders and MPs appealed for calm and tolerance after reports of racist abuse in the wake of the Brexit results, although police figures did not show a spike in overall hate crimes after the referendum.

However up to a dozen residents from Asian and Polish communities in Southampton reported being abused in the days after the result, and BBC journalist Sima Kotecha said she was verbally abused in her hometown of Basingstoke.

The new figures show race hate crimes were up 25.8 per cent from 124 in June last year to 156 in June this year.

It was reported police figures in Hampshire showed a decrease of 12 from the week before the referendum to the week after.

But nationally more than 3,000 hate crimes and incidents were reported to police across the UK in the second half of June - a jump of 42% compared to last year according to data published by the National Police Chiefs' Council.

The daily rate peaked at 289 alleged offences on June 25 - the day after the result of the EU referendum was announced.

The only figure that shows a decrease is disability, but the number of transgender hate crimes and faith hate crimes has doubled this year.

Last month a 12-year-old had a rock thrown at his head after being taunted about being transgender, when he was walking home from school.

The government is already taking action and Home Secretary Amber Rudd has unveiled an action plan to tackle hate crime, which includes an assessment of how police respond to the issue.

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We will continue to be visible and accessible so that if someone feels that they have been a victim of a hate crime they know they can talk to us.

"We would urge anyone who has been victim of a hate crime to contact us on 101."