HATE crime is rising in Inverclyde while the the national trend is going the other way.

Overall charges are on the increase in the district, while Scotland-wide the figure has fallen.

The rate of crimes relating to sexual orientation, disability and transgender are higher in Inverclyde than the country as a whole.

Councillor Jim MacLeod obtained the shocking figures from the Health and Social Care Community Partnership and says he is very concerned about the increase.

He said: "It is disturbing that there has been an increase and there exists a higher percentage in Inverclyde compared to national figures for sexual orientation, transgender and disability hate crimes."

The statistics are published in the Hate Crime in Scotland 2016-2017 report compiled by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

It states that between 2011-2012 and 2016-2017 there was an increase of 36.21 per cent in hate crimes committed across Inverclyde.

There were 58 in the first yearly period while the most recent figure was 79.

Across Scotland the number dropped from 6,455 to 5,708, a reduction of 11 per cent.

Mr MacLeod, who is the SNP health & social care spokesperson on the council, said: "This is worrying and I have sought information from Inverclyde HSCP about what they, and other partners, are doing to tackle this increase in hate crime."

Racially aggravated crime continues to be the most reported hate crime in Scotland and Inverclyde.

Between 2016-2017 there were 37 cases reported here.

Sexual orientation aggravated crime was the second most common offence, with 26 cases in Inverclyde.

There were five cases of disability aggravated crime, three of transgender aggravated crime and eight religiously motivated offences.