MINORITY communities have spoken out about abuse as the number of hate crimes in Sussex rose last year.

More than 1,600 racist crimes were reported between last October and September this year.

That is 300 more than the same period in 2017/18, sparking concerns from minority communities in Brighton.

Restaurant owner Mohammed Asaduzzaman said there was a “hostile environment” in the city.

“Brighton used to be a peaceful city,” he said at a meeting of the Racial Harassment Forum.

“But the peaceful life is gone.

“There is a hostile environment in Brighton.

“I have faced hate. Someone came into my shop and abused me.

“But I will not stop my job and my life because of this. This needs to be dealt with.”

The Racial Harassment Forum also issued a statement saying it was “not surprised” at the reported rise in hate.

“We had a preview of this following the EU referendum in June 2016 when racist and religiously motivated incidents had risen,” it said.

“We are also witnessing a rise of right wing rhetoric and ultra-nationalism which excludes black, minority, refugee, migrant and minority communities.

“The communities remain concerned and worried about these developments.

“Women, children and men are careful in our day-to-day lives to keep safe.”

The forum said the police’s “reduced resources” affected the force’s capacity to fight hate crime.

And though it welcomed increased reporting of hate crime, it called for more funds to be allocated towards working with minority communities.

“The cumulative impact that all minority communities experience due to hate incidents needs to be recognised and supported through better resources,” it said.

Sussex Police hate crime chief Ed De La Rue said the increase in reports was “not wholly bad” as it meant more victims felt comfortable talking to the force.

“The recording of hate crime has risen both locally and nationally. Sussex Police encourages the reporting of such offences, especially as it is an under-reported area of crime,” he said.

“We take hate crime seriously, we take victims seriously and we treat them with respect.

“Thus it means an increase in numbers may not be wholly bad.

“People are more aware of the problem and feel more confident in telling us when they have become victims.”

Religious hate crime also increased by 100 incidents year on year, as did homophobic incidents.