Latest figures show increase in hate crimes recorded by the police

In total, 115,990 hate crimes were recorded by the police, excluding the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) due to changes in how it records crimes.

And the data shows a significant increase in police recorded religious hate crimes targeting Muslims, up by 19 per cent, with a spike around the time of the Southport murders and the disorder that followed.

The figures published on Thursday (October 9) show a six per cent increase in race hate crimes and a three per cent increase in religious hate crimes recorded by the police (excluding the MPS) over the past year. There were falls in the other three strands: sexual orientation (down two per cent), disability (down eight per cent) and transgender (down 11 per cent)

Chief Constable Mark Hobrough, NPCC lead for Hate Crime, has the following message for communities: “Sadly we have seen that events nationally and around the world have led to an increase in community tension and a feeling of division amongst some communities, which has been used by a small minority to spread hate and division.

“We also know that sadly a proportion of hate crime continues to go unreported. We are determined to close that gap and empower all of our communities to feel confident to come forward and report matters to us.

“As we mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week, now more than ever we need to send a message to all our communities that we are here to support you and listen to your concerns.

“Particularly since the horrific incident in Manchester on Thursday 2 October 2025, we need to continue to do all we can to engage with and support communities who have been impacted by these tragic events and show that policing is here for them.

“Forces continue to step up high-visibility patrols across the country at synagogues and other places of worship, as well as more widely to provide reassurance to all those who have been affected.

“We continue to review security arrangements around vulnerable locations and events and would ask the public to remain vigilant. Please report anything that doesn’t feel right to police and be alert to what is happening in your own communities.

“Hate crime including antisemitism, racial and faith-based discrimination will not be tolerated in any form and we will continue to work with our criminal justice partners to bring hate crime offenders to justice.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioner’s joint leads on Race Disparity, Equality and Human Rights, Alison Lowe OBE and John Campion, said: “An increase in hate crimes recorded by police is deeply concerning, particularly following a drop in recent years.

“Whilst today’s figures do not provide a comprehensive picture, spikes at certain times appear to show clear correlations between events here and abroad and offences against particular communities.

“To target someone because of perceived difference is completely unacceptable and chips away at the bonds between communities in a way that risks fundamentally damaging the fabric of society. Now more than ever, it is particularly important that we stand up against those who spread hate and prejudice – particularly those of us in leadership positions.

“It is vital policing responds appropriately when someone has the courage to report this kind of crime. We will continue to urge our police and crime commissioner and deputy mayor colleagues across the country to hold their chief constables to account on this. Anyone who becomes a victim of a hate crime must feel confident in coming forward, knowing they will be taken seriously – and we would urge them to do so.

“Hate Crime Awareness Week (October 11-18), [is] a time to show there is no place in our society for directing hate at another person, and to pull together to call out those who seek to divide us.”