Disability hate crime on the rise
Hate crimes against people with disabilities in Scotland have risen more than 50 per cent.
Police Scotland recorded 284 hate crimes relating to disability in 2017/18, up from 188 the year before.
Figures released by the Scottish government on Friday (June 15) show that racially aggravated offences remain the most common hate crimes with 3,249 incidents reported – the lowest level for 14 years – but the number of crimes aggravated by the victim’s sexual orientation also rose by three per cent.
Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing welcomed the increase in victims’ confidence to report hate crimes but warned many incidents are still probably not coming to police attention.
She 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.”
The decline in racially motivated incidents continues an overall downward trend that has seen levels fall 29 per cent from the peak of 4,547 in 2011/12.
Crimes aggravated by sexual orientation were the second most common category with 1,112 incidents recorded.
Reports of this hate crime have risen every year except for 2014/15 since the category was first recognised in 2010.
A total of 642 religiously-aggravated charges were reported, 50 per cent of which involved Catholicism.
Another 174 incidents related to Protestantism and 115 related to Islam.
More than four in ten religious hate crimes were committed against serving police officers.
Chief Superintendent John McKenzie said: “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.”
Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC said: “Crime motivated by hatred if 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.”