Hate crimes motivated by race fall to lowest level in fourteen years

Charges linked to disability on the rise Football Act repeal ‘affects’ numbers

The number of racially motivated hate crimes has fallen to the lowest level for 14 years, but there has been a 51 per cent increase in offences against disabled people, new figures show.

Statistics published by the Scottish Government and the Crown Office show there were 3,249 racial hate crime charges in 2017/18 – the lowest annual total since consistent figures became available in 2003/04.

The figure continues a downward trend since a peak of 4,547 charges in 2011/12.

The number of charges reported with an aggravation of prejudice relating to disability rose 51 per cent to 284 – the highest number since legislation creating the aggravation came into force in 2010.

It is thought this type of crime continues to be underreported, with work underway to encourage disabled victims to report incidents to the police.

The number of hate crimes related to the victim’s sexuality also rose, up 3 per cent on the previous year to 1,112.

Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing said: “It’s reassuring to see more people are coming forward to report hate crime and in particular disability hate crime.

“But I still believe this isn’t the full picture and remain concerned that crime motivated by prejudice is underreported and would urge anyone who experiences it to ensure it’s reported properly.”

According to the figures, there were 642 charges with a religious aggravation reported in 2017/18 – 5 per cent fewer than in 2016/17, but higher than the numbers reported in the previous three years.

More than 40 per cent of the victims in these cases were police officers.

Officials said the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act earlier this year had affected the number of charges reported with religious aggravation and the number of charges (198) under section one of the now-defunct legislation.

Last month, judge Lord Bracadale called for hate crime legislation to be extended to cover offences motivated by hostility to a person’s age or gender.

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.

“Police officers, community groups and charities do fantastic work to tackle this unacceptable behaviour, but it’s clear more needs to be done.

“Hate crimes connected with disability and sexual orientation continue to rise.”

cmarshall@scotsman.com