This page provides information on the national frameworks to address hate crime in Malta. The information provided here should be viewed alongside data presented on Malta's hate crime report page.

Hate crime recording and data collection

Reports of hate crimes are recorded through the reporting system maintained by the Malta Police Force, which records the number of offences registered. Since 2019, the system (NPS – National Police System) has been adapted to allow for the classification of hate crimes. This system records information based on the most serious offence of the incident report. It also provides the possibility to record the element of hate present in a particular incident when filing a report.

Hate crime prosecution is based on the charges brought forward within the judicial system. Since the bias motivation is covered through aggravating clauses and motivational grounds, this is not recorded for statistical purposes. The current collection system used by the national judicial authorities does not include information on the aggravating circumstances of convicted offences.

Only hate speech cases are currently recorded in the Law Courts' database. There is a magistrate assigned by the Chief Justice to handle hate speech cases. Specific court sittings are held for hate speech prosecution. Data related to hate speech prosecutions is collated in the Court Management System. Judgements and statistics are accessible to the public and published on the website. 

Malta's first Anti-Racism Strategy initiated efforts to build a national data collection tool on hate speech and hate crime. The seond National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) was launched in November 2025.

Malta does not conduct national victimization surveys related to hate crime.

Hate crime victim support

Victims of incitement to hatred and crimes motivated by hatred are entitled to rights afforded to other crime victims, including the right to understand and be understood, the right to receive information from a competent authority, and the right to legal aid.

In addition, Article 12(b) of Cap. 539 provides that the Ministry or any designated entity shall provide "for the timely and individual assessment of victims who suffered from severe crimes, including crimes committed with a bias or discriminatory motive which could in particular, be related to their particular characteristics, and victims whose relationship to and dependence on the offender make them particularly vulnerable such as: […] (viii) victims of exploitation or hate crime".

As vulnerable victims of crime, "hate crime" victims are entitled, as a minimum, to the following:

• information, advice and support relevant to the rights of victims, including on accessing national compensation schemes for criminal injuries;
• information on their role in criminal proceedings, including preparation for attendance at the trial;
• information about or direct referral to any relevant specialist support services, including emotional and, where available, psychological support; and
• advice relating to financial and practical issues arising from the crime (article 12(c)).

Such services shall be offered on a confidential basis and free of charge (article 13(1)). Article 14B(2) also provides that certain measures must apply to vulnerable victims identified in accordance with article 12. These measures include ensuring that victim interviews are conducted in premises designed for or adapted to that purpose and by specifically trained professionals.

Malta provides specialized support to victims of hate crimes through the Victim Support Agency (VSA), established in 2021 through Legal Notice 418 (2020). It is a multidisciplinary agency made up of public servants, including members of the Police Victim Support Unit, legal and psychosocial professionals, and administrative officers. The VSA is entrusted to support victims of crime, including victims of hate crime. 

Victims may access the VSA's services through various mechanisms. A national free-of-charge victim support helpline (116 006) was introduced to provide support to victims of crime. Its operators can provide referrals to professional support services. Furthermore, the VSA has undertaken activities to raise awareness of online hate speech and hate crime through the creation of a dedicated page on its official website. The agency also works with public and non-public organizations to strengthen research in the field with the support of EU-Funded Projects. 

The VSA has also established a specialized Victim Support Network, which brings together representatives from various Ministries to address gaps in legislation and procedures that form part of the support system for crime victims, including victims of hate crime. Consequently, efforts have been made to provide victims with more information on how to report hate crime cases and to ensure the sensitive and respectful treatment of hate crime victims. Victims can contact the network even before filing a report with the police. 

The VSA actively advocates for victims' rights and provides support services to all victims, including those affected by hate speech and hate crimes. In addition, the VSA holds information sessions and prevention campaigns in schools and within the wider community, including older adults, to raise awareness about what constitutes hate speech and hate crime, and to explain how such incidents can be reported. 

In addition to the general support services offered, a specialized service assists victims in preparing an official complaint, providing greater legal clarity regarding offences related to hate speech. These services are offered free of charge and complement the emotional and legal support also made available at no cost. It is important to note that the VSA monitors and supports the victim throughout the entire process. From an emotional standpoint, the VSA accompanies the victim to help them provide a clear and credible account of the facts in court.

The VSA has legal officers specializing in hate crime, and training of staff is ongoing.   It also organizes ad hoc information sessions for professionals to raise awareness about the importance of supporting hate crime victims with sensitivity and care. Ongoing consultation and close collaboration with civil society remain key to strengthening efforts to combat hate crimes.

Police are trained on hate crimes and follow relevant internal guidelines. Victims are encouraged to file an evaluation form on the service they received.

Hate crime capacity building

Police officers receive training on hate crimes as part of the mandatory in-service programme, with the topic also forming part of the core training for recruits. The training is delivered through the Academy for Disciplined Forces, which integrates modules on human rights, ethics, diversity, and professional standards within various training levels—from basic courses required for promotion to Police Sergeant, to programmes for Officer Cadets and leading to the Diploma in Policing. While Malta previously implemented ODIHR's Training against Hate Crimes for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme in 2017, this occurred prior to the establishment of the current Training and Development Unit. In May 2025, Malta co-operated with ODIHR to host a TAHCLE "train-the-trainer" workshop, which equipped 15 police officers to deliver the training across the force.

Since 2024, district police officers have also received an ad hoc training titled 'Understanding Hate Communication and Hate Crime'. Additionally, the Human Rights Directorate continues to contribute periodically to training sessions within the Academy.

Hate crime-related training is provided to members of the judiciary through local seminars organized by the Judicial Studies Committee. In addition, some members of the judiciary attend specialized seminars held abroad by entities such as the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and the Academy of European Law (ERA). In this context, members of the judiciary attended an optional two-day seminar on anti-Semitism and hate crimes organized by the EJTN.

Hate crime trainings are implemented as part of the second National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR).