Children as young as seven are being reported for homophobic hate crimes, says new study
The new BBC report found that over the last four years transphobic hate crimes have increased by 150 per cent
By Steve Brown
Children as young as seven are being accused of hate crimes across the UK, according to a new study.
The BBC Three report found that since 2014, a total of 70 children under the age of 13 were reported for homophobic and transphobic hate crimes.
Shockingly, a number of these children were under the age of seven at the time.
It also revealed that people in their 20s are most likely to be accused of hate crime, whereas it was teenagers and younger who are more likely to be accused of hate crime towards the transgender community.
The study also found that hate crimes targeted at the transgender community has risen by 150% over the past four years.
Homophobic hate crimes have also rise by 66 per cent during the same period.
The study also found that in 2014, around one in four (23 per cent) of hate crimes had led to a charge whereas only one in eight (13 per cent) led to a charge last year.