A new initiative to tackle hate crimes against gays, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities in North Yorkshire was launched today by the county's police.

Diversity Incorporating Safer Communities (Disc) aims to promote tolerance of minority groups while giving support to those who become victims of hate crimes.

The force is believed to be the first in the country to introduce a system which will accurately record all aspects of hate crime. And self-reporting forms will be available from community venues and various agencies for victims who have previously been reluctant to report incidents to the police. Disc was launched today by Chief Constable David Kenworthy, who was joined by representatives of local disability, gay and ethnic minority groups. North Yorkshire police's diversity development officer, Kathy Anderson, said: "For a variety of reasons hate crime is under-reported and under-recorded in the county.

"The force has been working with a number of other agencies including social services, welfare, housing, education and community groups in order to obtain a clearer picture of what is happening on the ground.

Ms Anderson said Disc was as much about prevention as detection, and tackling the fear of crime as much as the actual crime itself.