THE Commission for Racial Equality will investigate a rise in racially motivated crimes in Chorley.

Councillor Mel Coombes, chairman of Chorley council's ethnic minorities consultative committee said: "There has been a significant increase in racial harassment cases.

"We have expressed our concern and informed the commission for racial equality in Preston.

"They, ourselves and the police take the matter seriously and any case brought to our attention will be investigated."

The committee heard last week that race hate crime in Chorley accounted for 50 per cent of all racist offences in the South Lancashire police area.

Lancashire police, however, claim that the figures show a growing willingness among members of minority communities.

Police also blame a wider definition of a racist offence for inflating the figures.

New regulations mean that if any party in a crime believes the offence to be racially motivated, police must treat it as a race crime.

Detective Inspector Steve Hartley of Lancashire Police said: "The increase in reported crime is not necessarily a bad thing. Because of the publicity more people have been encouraged to get in touch.

"We want to send a message that we will police crimes of this nature robustly."

Mr Hartley confirmed that several arrests had been made and several people were being prosecuted under new race hate legislation in the crime and disorder act.

Councillor Coombes said: "If their are people who know of cases of discrimination, not just black and Asian people, I'd be happy to hear from them."

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