Hate crimes recorded by the police in Scotland, 2022-23

Executive Summary

The police recorded 6,257 hate crimes in 2022-23. This is 10% (or 670) lower than in 2021-22 and the lowest number since 2014-15.

No clear trend can be seen in the total number of hate crimes recorded by the police in Scotland over 2014-15 to 2022-23, with four of the years following 2014-15 showing an increase and the other four showing a decrease.

In 2022-23, the number of hate crimes recorded by Police Scotland per 10,000 population was highest in Glasgow City and the City of Edinburgh local authority areas (25 and 18 crimes per 10,000 population respectively). The Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands local authority areas had the lowest rates.

In 2022-23, three-fifths (60%) of hate crimes included a race aggravator. Just over a quarter (26%) included a sexual orientation aggravator, and around one in ten (10%) had a religion aggravator. Hate crimes with a disability aggravator made up 8% of all recorded, whilst those with a transgender identity aggravator made up 3%.

In 2022-23, a majority (55%) of hate crimes recorded were ‘Threatening or abusive behaviour’ under Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. This was followed by ‘Racially aggravated conduct’ which represented 10% of hate crime recorded and ‘Common Assault’ (also 10%).

In 2022-23, the most common hate crime recorded across each of the different aggravators was ‘Threatening or abusive behaviour’. With the exception of race, this crime made up more than 50% of all crimes recorded for each aggravator.