Disability hate crime increases by over 50 per cent in a year

Disabled parking space - Image credit: PA Images

Reported disability hate crime has increased by more than half in a year, new statistics released today have shown.

There were 284 charges with a disability element in 2017-18, compared with 188 in 2016-17, a rise of 51 per cent.

It is thought the increase may be down to increased awareness and support to report crimes of this type and community safety minister Annabelle Ewing said it was “reassuring” that more victims were coming forward.

However, disability hate crime remained a relatively small proportion of overall reported hate crime.

Race remained the most common reason for hate crime, accounting for 3,249 charges.

But numbers of racially motivated incidents continued the downward trend of the past few years reaching its lowest level since 2003-4 and down 29 per cent from a peak in 2011-12.

The second most common hate crime was related to sexual orientation, accounting for 1,112 charges – a rise of three per cent on last year.

With the exception of 2014-15, there have been year on year increases in the numbers of hate crimes based on sexual orientation being reported since it was introduced as an aggravation in 2010.

The third highest category was religious hatred, with 642 charges in 2017-18.

Of these Catholicism was the most targeted faith, accounting for 50 per cent of the crimes, followed by Protestantism and Islam.

Over 40 per cent of religiously aggravated crimes were directed at police officers.

Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing said: “It’s reassuring to see more people are coming forward to report hate crime, and in particular disability hate crime.

“A significant amount of work has been done by Police Scotland, the Crown Office and community organisations over the past year to ensure this is happening.

“But I still believe this isn’t the full picture and remain concerned that crime motivated by prejudice is underreported and would urge anyone who experiences it to ensure it’s reported properly.”

Chief Superintendent John McKenzie said hate crime was a key priority for Police Scotland and said the organisation recognised “the deep personal impact it has on individuals, their families and wider communities”.

He added: “We are aware that hate crime is often under reported however Police Scotland is fully committed to reviewing and investigating all reports of hate.

“It is only through reporting offences that we can form a more complete picture of the issue and address it in the most robust manner possible.”

The Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, today welcomed the publication of figures.

He said: “Crime motivated by hatred is not only a wrong against the individual, but is an affront to our collective values as a community, creating division and fear.

“That is why we treat it so seriously and why we will continue to do so.

“It is encouraging that many victims of hate crime have the confidence to report this type of offending and we would encourage more to do so.

“People who live in Scotland, regardless of their personal or social circumstances, can be assured that they live in a just society and that they will be protected from crime – and in particular from hate crime.”

The Scottish Government is working with Police Scotland to produce a new publication on recorded incidents of hate crime and will also consult later this year on the recommendations in Lord Bracadale’s review of hate crime legislation in Scotland.