Race attacks fall to their lowest level in 14 years

Deputy Scottish Political Editor RACIALLY motivated crimes have fallen across most areas of Scotland, while attacks on disabled and LGBT communities soar.

There were 3,249 charges brought for racially motivated crime last year, down 4 per cent and the lowest number reported since 2003-04, according to the latest Hate Crime in Scotland figures, published yesterday by the Scottish Government and Crown Office.

However, some areas of the country saw a rise, including Stirling, where the number of incidents was up by 42 per cent from 45 to 64 and Inverness, where the number increased by 37 per cent from 43 to 59. In Dun-

‘More to do to tackle inequality’

dee, charges against those carrying out race crimes increased by 24 per cent from 93 to 116.

Sexual orientation sparked the second most common type of hate crime, with 1,112 charges reported last year, an increase of 3 per cent on the previous year.

There has also been a 51 per cent rise in the targeting of disabled people across the country, with the number of incidents up from 188 to 284.

There were 642 religiously aggravated charges reported – half of them aimed at Catholics.

Scottish Labour’s justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: ‘The continued prevalence of hate crime in Scotland reminds us that there is more to do to tackle inequality and discrimination in society.’