United Kingdom

The United Kingdom regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. The UK has a Hate Crime Action Plan for England and Wales. The UK Government collaborates closely with civil society, including through Information Sharing Agreements concluded with the Community Security Trust (CST) and Tell MAMA.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Justice chairs a multi-agency Hate Crime Delivery Group (HCDG) to identify strategic, cross-governmental priorities and develop new approaches to dealing with hate crime. The HCDG monitors hate crime trends and delivers an action plan to strengthen inter-agency communication and co-ordination to address hate crime across Northern Ireland. The group meets quarterly and includes representatives of government departments, criminal justice agencies and victim groups.

The Scottish Minister for Equalities and Older People has convened a Hate Crime Strategic Partnership Group (SPG), which brings together criminal justice agencies and civil society organizations with hate crime expertise.

The UK's College of Policing has developed guidelines for police on responding to hate crime, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has issued relevant guidance for prosecutors and published public policy statements on particular hate crime strands. The CPS also holds regular meetings with community members and groups.

Police and prosecution data, which cover the reporting period from April to March of the following year, are regularly published by the relevant criminal justice agencies of England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

SELECT YEAR

OFFICIAL DATA

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2021	158,018	5,984	932
2020	125,848	16,824	9,510
2019	106,672	14,058	9,340
2018	111,076	18,055	10,817
2017	95,552	14,535	11,987
2016	80,763	20,321	Not available
2015	62518	21300	13103
2014	52853	4872	549
2013	47986	19689	12353
2012	47676	19205	10794
2011	50688	19802	12651
2010	53946	19342	11405
2009	58692	13030	10690

Download official data

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Community Security Trust reported 92 physical assaults, including two involving serious injury which were also reported by the Kantor Center. The Community Security Trust reported a further 63 incidents of damage and desecration of Jewish property, including against 14 synagogues, 26 homes and four cemeteries, and 29 threats. The incidents mainly took place in London and Greater Manchester.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Engage reported 13 physical assaults, two of which involved serious bodily injury; two threats; three cases of arson, one of which was against a mosque; one bomb threat against a mosque; and 12 cases of criminal damage, three of which were against a mosque and one against a cemetery. Engage also reported ten cases of graffiti, seven of which were on a mosque; two cases where a pig’s head was left outside a mosque; one theft; one threat; and one case of harassment.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

The Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) reported one physical assault against a transgender person on a bus. Transgender Europe (TGEU) reported one murder of a transgender person; four physical assaults against transgender people, including one at a bus stop; one sexual assault; one physical assault that was prosecuted as a hate crime; and a series of physical assaults against a transgender child.

Developments

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Community Security Trust published A Guide to Fighting Hate Crime that sets out how to monitor and report incidents of hate crime and work with the police to improve responses. It is aimed at minority groups and potential victims of hate crime.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Faith Matters set up the Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks (MAMA) project, which enables people from across England to report any form of anti-Muslim abuse via telephone, e-mail, SMS, Facebook or Twitter. The purpose of the project is to collect information about anti-Muslim incidents and enable local police forces and social support services to target their resources.