POLITICIANS from the Vale of Glamorgan have joined faith leaders in condemning hate crime following an increase in incidents after the EU referendum.

A spate of incidents across the country have been reported by the national media in the wake of the Brexit vote.

It sparked a cross-party, cross-denominational statement between Vale and Cardiff politicians co-ordinated by Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty.

He said: "I’m delighted at the solidarity and response and encourage others to support the sentiments in the statement."

South Wales police and crime commissioner and Penarth resident, Alun Michael added: "South Wales Police aims to understand the needs of its communities and wants to hear about people’s current experiences – for example the Muslim Council of Wales and I have worked out a new way for people to tell the police about incidents or experiences informally.

"Anyone who believes they have been the victim of any hate crime should contact police on 101, or 999 in an emergency."

Faith leaders also added their support to the statement, which read:

"Wales has a proud tradition of welcoming people from around the world and it is our diversity that makes us stronger.

"We are grateful to all those who choose this small nation to work and live in.

"As elected representatives, community and faith leaders in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, we pledge to stand together against hate and intolerance in our communities - from wherever that comes.

"Whether it is in the street, the workplace or online, those who seek to promote hatred and violence - whether based on race, religion, political affiliation, gender or sexuality - have no place in Wales or in Britain.

"We stand united. We will not tolerate hatred and those who promote it."

Vale MP Alun Cairns also backed the statament, along with Cardiff South and Penarth AM Vaughan Gething; Vale AM Jane Hutt; Vale council leader cllr Neil Moore; secretary general of the Muslim Council of Wales, Saleem Kidwai; the Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Llandaff, the Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan; Reverend Canon Aled Edwards, chief executive of Cytûn: Churches Together in Wales; Stanley Soffa, chair of South Wales Jewish Representative Council; Vimla Patel, chair of Hindu Council of Wales; and Naran B Patel president, Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff.