Police Recorded Hate Crime
Police recorded crime figures show in 2019/20 that there were 105,090 offences recorded by the police where one or more of the central monitored hate crime strands were deemed to be a motivating factor. This was 8% higher than in 2018/19. Figures from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were not included in this year’s release due to the implementation of new IT systems affecting data supply.
The increase in Police recorded hate crime over time has partly been attributed to better recording methods used and greater awareness in reporting hate crimes.
Covid-19 Pandemic
In October 2020, the Home Office published provisional trends in racially or religiously aggravated offences under Covid-19 restrictions in England and Wales, up until July 2020.
Data from the GMP was excluded and provisionally shows that in March, April and May 2020 the levels of racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police were lower than in the same period in 2019, but that in June and July 2020 they were higher – in June by as much as one third.
Police Force Area Data
The highest rate of hate crimes recorded per 100,000 population in 2019/20 was in the West Yorkshire Police Force Area (359). The lowest rate was found in North Yorkshire (78). The rate for England and Wales including the British Transport Police was 177.
West Yorkshire was the only police force to appear amongst the 10 highest rates recorded for each hate crime strand.
