ON October 30, a vigil was held at the Old Steine to show solidarity with those who have been victims of hate crime and homophobic attacks in the city.

The event was timed to coincide with similar vigils across the country including one in Trafalgar Square, where Home Office worker Ian Baynham was fatally assaulted earlier in October.

Attacks like this and another on trainee police officer James Parkes in Liverpool recently have no place in our society.

No one should be the victim of violence because of their sexuality and members of the LGBT community should not live in fear of attack.

I attended the event to demonstrate to members of the LGBT community that they should not have to face the threat or reality of hate crime alone. It is the responsibility of us all to stand up to those who think they can perpetrate these attacks and get away with it.

Reporting of hate crime has increased and the police deal with these reports in a far better way than in the past. Anyone who is the victim of an attack should report it and know they have the backing of people across the city.

Warren Morgan, Labour and Co-operative councillor for East Brighton ward, Brighton and Hove City Council