Justice and safer communities statistics: monthly data report summary - October 2024

Hate Crime

Summary statistics on hate crime

Numbers fell for police recorded hate crime. 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, 60% of hate crimes included an aggravator for race, 26% sexual orientation, 10% religion, 8% disability and 3% transgender identity.

Small increase in overall hate crime charges. There was an increase of 1.5% between 2022-23 and 2023-24, in the total number of charges reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service containing at least one element of hate crime. There were increases for race, disability and transgender identity. Religion and sexual orientation aggravated hate crime charges saw a decrease. Racial crime remains the most commonly reported hate crime, followed by crimes with a sexual orientation aggravator.