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Protests outside Birmingham primary schools demanding an end to LGBT awareness teaching have coincided with the biggest ever spike in complaints about homophobic hate.

A total of 453 homophobic hate incidents were reported to West Midlands Police in the six months from February to the end of July. That was nearly DOUBLE the number in the previous six months.

Reports of homophobia have been rising steadily for the past five years - but the police officer who leads on LGBT-related crime for the force said the spike was a cause for concern.

Pc Gary Stack, said the number of complaints recorded since protests started was "disturbing".

"There has definitely been a step change in people's attitudes," he said.

(Image: Birmingham Live)

"We are currently seeing a huge spike in homophobic hate crime reports, which coincided with when the protests started outside the schools.

"A good number of those will be linked to the protests, others will be increased confidence in saying certain things, and the media interest and publicity will also mean we see a rise."

Pc Stack said the rise was the biggest recorded to date by the force for homophobic crime.

In the six months from August 2018 to January 2019 there were 274 incidents - but in the six months to July, there were 453.

Protests have taken place outside Parkfield Community Primary in Alum Rock and Anderton Park Primary, Sparkhill, since the start of the year, led by parents and campaigners concerned that primary age children are 'too young' to learn about the existence and equality of LGBT people.

Both schools share equality messages with pupils, including using story books featuring LGBT characters and families.

Chanting protestors held regular gatherings outside Parkfield for two months; when they were stopped while consultation took place, new protests started up outside Anderton Park School.

Police usually expect to receive 35 to 60 complaints a month about homophobic incidents. At the height of the protests, the number of complaints ranged from a low of 62 complaints to a high of 90.

There was also a steady increase in all hate crime reports, with race-related incidents accounting for around 80 per cent of all hate crimes reported.

In the year to early April, there were 5,770 hate crimes of all types - up from 4,686 in the previous year.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

The protests prompted huge media interest and became a national talking point.

Andrew Moffat, assistant head teacher at Parkfield School, said: “I have never experienced homophobia like I have in the last six months.

“The protests have given a licence to people that think it is OK to shout abuse. This rise is very scary and very worrying - but I am not surprised.

"I have been openly gay for years and I have never faced open homophobia and insults as I do now. I have had children taunt me about being gay to my face - that has never happened in all my years teaching.

"The protests have given a licence to people to be insulting who may not have felt confident before. They have role models."

Mr Moffat said he had reported a “significant amount” of offences targeting him – both at school and online – to the police. His partner has also been subject to abuse, he said.

(Image: BPM Media)

He said: “People are seeing this is happening and they are not seeing a strong, robust response from the Department for Education or from anyone. The police have been very supportive and we've had multiple meetings but no prosecution has resulted.

"A parent can stand outside and be insulting, talk about me wearing a tutu and dancing around, talk about me as a safeguarding risk, and that is permitted under the law.

“I am really concerned there is a culture developing where hate crime is becoming acceptable.”

A Government spokesperson said: “Hate crime is unacceptable in any circumstance or setting and schools should be safe places for children and staff.

“Our country has a proud history of tolerance and that is why we want children to learn the importance of respect for each other.”

New Prime Minister Boris Johnson and new Education Secretary Gavin Williamson have been urged to be more prescriptive over teaching of LGBT education. Their predecessors were accused of being 'cowardly' in their handling of the issues and of leaving head teachers 'hung out to dry' over the equality agenda.

Mr Moffat added: "I am full of hope. The new term will bring challenge for schools and I am hopeful the new Prime Minister and the Department for Education will recognise we cannot go back into the dark ages (for LGBT people). It will take time but we are on the right path."

Where does the law stand on homophobic incidents?

There has been confusion among witnesses to the protests about where the line is drawn between freedom of speech and hate crime.

The West Midlands force has produced advice highlighting the differences between hate incidents and hate crimes, which says:

* A hate crime is any criminal offence (for example, public order offence, criminal damage, harassment, assault) that is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's actual or perceived race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

* A hate incident is a non-crime event (for example, insults, criticism or other examples of free speech; or some forms of anti social behaviour) that is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's actual or perceived race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

In a document shared with local LGBT groups by PC Stack, the police have also responded to some frequently asked questions, including: 'Why are the police not stopping protests, moving people on, or taking action against chants seen as 'homophobic?'

The response says: "We live in a democracy. Everyone has the civic right to hold peaceful protests and the police have a very clear statutory duty laid out in law to facilitate this right.

"Our job is to prevent a breach of the peace, maintain safety and deal with criminal matters that may arise as a result of the protest; it is not to try to reason with protesters, change their view points or take sides in a dispute.

"Where criminal matters arise they will be dealt with robustly."

The document also clarifies the difficulties involved in bringing forward a complaint of inciting hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation - which has a much higher threshhold than the equivalent offence of inciting hatred on the grounds of race.

Insulting or being abusive about someone's sexual orientation in a way intended to stir up hatred is not a criminal offence - only making threats is.

"This offence (relating to sexual orientation) is limited to material or conduct which is threatening and which is intended to stir up hatred. This differs to racial hatred which extends to conduct or material that is threatening, abusive or insulting and which is intended to stir up hatred.

"So while some of what is being said (at the protests) might be insulting to LGBT people, there is no provision in law for insulting conduct or material. None of the conduct relating to the protests so far has been threatening."

West Midlands Police is still reviewing a large amount of material, including pictures and video, relating to recent protests at Anderton Park School. To date, there have been no arrests or charges.