Homophobic crimes have risen across the UK by 23 per cent, according to an Independent on Sunday survey of Britain's police forces. The majority of the country's forces reported a significant rise in the number of incidents last year, with increases ranging from 12.5 per cent in London to a threefold rise in Derbyshire and Gwent.

Gay rights campaigners said the figures were deeply disturbing and called on the Government to introduce a law making incitement to homophobic hatred a crime - something the Home Secretary has so far refused to do.