United Kingdom

England and Wales

The Online Safety Act 2023 made hate crime a priority offence. Under new legal duties of care, technology companies will need to prevent, identify, and remove illegal content and activity online. This means less illegal content - including content that incites hate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation - will appear online and, when it does, it will be removed more quickly. The Online Safety Act will require technology companies to remove already illegal content, such as hate crime related content, and to design their services to reduce the likelihood of being used for criminal activity in the first place.

In 2023, the UK Government introduced a code of practice for police in England and Wales relating to the recording and retention of personal data in non-crime hate incident records.

In 2018, the Law Commission conducted a review into hate crime legislation in England and Wales. In 2023, the UK Government published a response to the recommendations, agreeing with the Law Commission that sex/gender should not be added to the hate crime framework as a protected characteristic.

In 2023/24, the Home Office provided up to £50.9 million to protect faith communities. The Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant provides protective security measures at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and community sites. In response to the Israel/Hamas conflict and reports of increased incidents of anti-Semitism in the UK, the JCPS Grant was increased from £15 million to £18 million per year for 2023/24 and 2024/25.
The new Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides protective security measures to mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres. Protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools. Additional funding of £4.9 million was made available for protective security at mosques and Muslim faith schools, bringing total funding to £29.4 million for 2023/24 and 2024/25. 

Northern Ireland

In 2023, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched a hate crime campaign during Hate Crime Awareness Week. "Put yourself in their shoes" was rolled out across multiple media accounts and continues to be used at present. The purpose is to raise awareness of hate crime across communities and improve confidence in reporting hate crime to the Police.

Scotland

In November 2023, the Scottish Government published the Hate Crime Strategy Delivery Plan, which sets out the strategic priorities for tackling hate crime in Scotland until April 2026. It provides a vision for a Scotland where everyone lives free from hatred and prejudice and where communities are empowered, inclusive and safe.

The Strategy was developed in partnership with organizations with expertise in tackling prejudice, building cohesive communities and advancing human rights. Importantly, it was informed by communities with lived experience of hate crime. The Delivery Plan includes actions to ensure improved support for victims of hate crime, improve data and evidence on hate crime. and develop effective approaches to preventing hate crime and promoting community cohesion. 

Notable Cases:

In December 2023, two 16-year-olds were sentenced to a life term in prison for murdering a 16-year-old transgender girl. The pair were sentenced after the Crown Prosecution Service successfully applied for the sentence to reflect that the murder was in part motivated by hostility towards the victim because she was transgender. The murder was found to be premeditated, the prosecution put forward evidence that suggested the murder was a hate crime – including WhatsApp messages which used dehumanizing language to describe the victim. The case triggered a national public response with messages of solidarity to the victim and her family.