IT’S CERTAINLY disappointing to hear about heightened concerns over hate crime, since the Brexit vote, in the new report published by the Council for Mosques.

Everything possible must be done to tackle such issues in our district and to bring the perpetrators to justice, although it’s worth noting that Bradford isn’t alone in experiencing this type of crime and that it seems to be part of a national trend.

Perhaps an issue of even greater local concern is that of jobs and the task of finding enough work for the Bradford district’s fast-growing young population in the years to come - a challenge which is also highlighted in the new report.

In post-Brexit Britain, there are likely to be some significant economic changes, so the ever-evolving nature of the jobs market will be a matter of close interest for young people from all communities.

Although it’s likely to be down to the drop-off in seasonal work after Christmas, there’s a hint of anxiety in the January job figures, which show a 2.5 per cent increase in Bradford people claiming unemployment benefits.

It’s further evidence that we need to see Government investment in the region increasing as a matter of some urgency if we are to have a chance of creating the kind of job opportunities that will be needed by the district’s growing workforce.

We desperately need to see the sorts of businesses that will attract these young people springing up across the district and often that just needs a kickstart from local, regional and national agencies.