RACIAL tensions in Wales and further afield have worsened in recent months and years, a Newport AM has claimed.

Newport East's John Griffiths was speaking in the Senedd earlier today, Tuesday, after it was revealed there were 97 prosecutions for hate crime in Gwent between April 2016 and March this year.

Across Wales, there were 737 prosecutions, with 606 of these resulting in conviction, during the same period, up 22 per cent on the previous year.

Speaking during a debate on tackling hate crime Labour AM Mr Griffiths said he was concerned about the increase.

"I was born and brought up in Pill in Newport, which is ethnically diverse, much more so now than in my youth," he said.

"EU enlargement has added an increasing pace to that.

"There has always been tensions in such areas, I think, along racial lines, but it certainly has got worse, in my experience, in recent times, partially because of the perceived terrorist threat and partially, perhaps, because of the pressures around EU enlargement."

He said it was important politicians and others with prominent roles in society did as much as they could to battle xenophobia.

"All of us need to understand the importance of countering the sort of views and the sort of prejudices that do lead to discrimination," he said.

"It doesn’t stop there - when people say those things it can cause problems that can cause incidents."

Opening yesterday's debate, which was held as part of Hate Crime Awareness Week, communities and children secretary Carl Sargeant said the increase in hate crime were down at least partially to more people reporting the crime.

"Nevertheless, there is real concern amongst the police, the third sector and other partners at the rising number of hate crimes committed last year," he said.

"We have therefore been working closely with them to maximise the impact of our work and build communities where hate crime is not tolerated and victims are supported to the utmost."

Incidents of hate crime should always be reported to police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.