HITCHIN: Police are hunting a group after hateful homophobic violence saw two teenage girls attacked and robbed in Market Place this weekend.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information following the hate incident in Hitchin after two teenage girls were targeted in a violent, unprovoked attack in what is believed to be a homophobic hate incident.

At around 745pm on Friday (August 13) the victims, aged 17 and 19 years old, were approached by a group of up to five suspects who verbally abused them in market place before attacking them.

The victims were kicked and punched and had their phones and purses taken.

Both girls were taken to hospital for treatment but have since been released.

The suspects are described as white teenagers. One had curly brown hair and was wearing black basketball shorts and a white t-shirt.

Two of the others were wearing black hooded tops and black shorts.

Detective Constable Rebecca Robinson said: "This was an unprovoked homophobic attack which left the victims needing hospital treatment.

"I would appeal to anyone who was in the town centre last night and who saw what happened or who has any information about the incident to please contact us."

Anyone with information about the incident can report information online at herts.police.uk/report or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference 41/62451/21.

Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Herts constabulary say they are determined to ensure LGBT+ communities feels comfortable to approach the force should they ever need to and build confidence within them that they will be taken seriously and treated with sensitivity.

As part of this, the constabulary has LGBT+ Liaison Officers based all over the county and have been specially trained to support people from LGBT+

Victim Care Centre Beacon."

Victims do not have to contact police directly to report a crime. They can report at a number of third-party reporting centres in Hertfordshire.

More information about hate crime and third-party reporting centres can be found at hertsagainsthate.org.