A new campaign has started to tackle racist and homophobic hate crimes in Bradford.

Police have teamed up with Bradford Council, primary health care trusts and the fire service to raise awareness of the problem and encourage people not to suffer in silence.

The campaign features a free helpline advertised on buses and radio stations and the handing out of information packs encouraging victims to report hate crimes, including those based on religion.

It is the latest move in Bradford to focus on such incidents; nearly 40 centres have been set up in the district where victims can report crimes without going to police stations.

Websites and 24-hour helplines have also been set up to aid reporting of offences.

The introduction of reporting centres - in places like community centres, libraries, places of worship and housing offices - is thought to be responsible for an increase in the number of hate crimes recorded.

Between April and August this year, 354 racist crimes and 26 homophobic offences were reported to police and Bradford Hate Crime Alliance, compared with 313 and 12 for the same period last year.

West Yorkshire was revealed to have the fourth highest number of prosecutions in England and Wales for crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender victims, with 15 from January to May.

Inspector Martin Baines, chairman of the Hate Crime Alliance, said support for victims was getting better.

He said: "We are also getting better at identifying the nature and extent of the problem and in dealing with the perpetrators. The launch of this campaign highlights the positive steps being made across the district to tackle hate crime and emphasises that it is not - and should not be - tolerated.

"We are working hard with local communities to tackle the issue. We want to send out the message that people should not stay silent.

"Reporting makes a difference. It can give us a picture of what is happening so we can act on it and prevent crimes happening to someone else."

The new campaign has been started by the Bradford District Safer Communities Partnership as part of a national initiative called True Vision.

The reporting centres are run by the Hate Crime Alliance and funded by the Safer Communities Partnership, which employs trained staff to deal with any form of hate crime. The centres are more accessible, convenient and less intimidating than police stations and also offer advice and support, working with the Council, police, Victim Support and Bradford Community Housing Trust.

Council leader Margaret Eaton said: "We want to convey the message that hate crime is an offence and is not acceptable in society.

"It is of concern to the whole community and we want people to know that reporting incidents does make a difference and create a safer place for us all to live."

Insp Baines said police and the Crown Prosecution Service had both introduced scrutiny panels with lay members to review how reports of hate crimes were investigated and prosecuted.

He added: "We are working together, trying to raise awareness. These are serious incidents which we treat as a priority and want to encourage people to report them."

Victims can call (01274) 786652 to find their nearest reporting centre, or call the freephone reporting line on 0800 1381625. More information can also be found at www.hatecrimealliance.co.uk.

In August, the Telegraph & Argus reported how the number of race hate crimes had doubled in a year - according to West Yorkshire Police figures.

The number of crimes reported between March 31 and July 20 last year was 153. In the same period this year 306 were reported.

A police spokesman said there had been "an understandable increase in the number of incidents perceived to be racially motivated since July 7".

He added: "West Yorkshire Police do take racially motivated incidents extremely seriously and actively encourages people to report them."