Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2013-14

4. Putting Racist Incidents in Context

4.1. There are a number of data sources which collect information on racist incidents in Scotland.

• The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) provides information on Harassment.
• The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) asks respondents if they have experienced any kind of discrimination or harassment.
• As detailed in this publication, Police Scotland record the number of racist incidents that are reported to them.
• The Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) publish information on Hate Crime, which includes information on race crime.
• The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service has data on court proceedings and convictions.

4.2. The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) is a large-scale survey measuring people's experience and perceptions of crime in Scotland. The survey is currently conducted biennially and based on a representative sample of adults (aged 16 and over), living in private households in Scotland.

The SCJS asks respondents a series of questions on harassment including any incidents in which they may have been insulted, pestered or intimidated in any way. Those that had experienced being insulted, pestered or intimidated in any way were then asked what they thought it was motivated by.

Results from the survey can be accessed from the Scottish Government's website: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/crime-and-justice-survey/publications

4.3. The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is a continuous survey based on a sample of the general population in private residences in Scotland. The SHS is designed to provide reliable and up-to-date information on the composition, characteristics, attitudes and behaviour of private households and individuals. It covers a wide range of topics to allow links to be made between different policy areas.

The SHS asks respondents if, in the last three years, whilst in Scotland, they have experienced any kind of discrimination or harassment. Adults who had experienced harassment and discrimination were asked why they thought they had experienced it.

Results from the survey can be accessed from the Scottish Government's website: http://www.gov.scot/SHS

4.4. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) publishes Official Statistics on the number of Hate Crime charges reported in Scotland on an annual basis. It includes charges related to racially aggravated harassment and behaviour and also other offences with a racial aggravation. Statistics, along with commentary are available on the COPFS website: http://www.crownoffice.gov.uk/publications/equality-and-diversity

4.5. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service publishes statistics through the Scottish Government on proceedings and convictions. More information on the statistics available are here: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/PubCriminalProceedings