The harrowing news that a young lesbian couple were attacked in a vicious hate-crime in Gloucester Place (http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4691151.Brighton_lesbian_couple_beaten_up... ) has brought to the surface an issue which has long been the focus of Brighton's LGBT campaigners - conviction rates.

According to reports, the police waited 12 days before appealing for witnesses to the attack.

It's common sense that victims of these vile crimes are going to be less eager to report an offence when the police aren't being seen making every effort to identify and prosecute those responsible.

What makes such stories so shocking is that Brighton and Hove is an amazingly inclusive place to live. To lose the vibrancy and culture that the LGBT community brings to our city would be a catastrophe. Prioritising the identification and prosecution of hate crime is an essential facet of supporting that community.

If anyone who saw the attack or three men in the area at about 3am on October 7 could they please contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.