Report shows decline in racial crime but uptick in sexual orientation and disability offences

James Wolffe QC

The report, Hate Crime in Scotland 2017-18, brings together figures on race crime, and on crime motivated by prejudice related to religion, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity.

But while there was a declne in racial crime, there was an increase in sexual orientation aggravated crime and crime with an aggravation of prejudice relating to disability.

For sexual orientation aggravated crime there were 1,112 charges reported in 2017-18, an increase of three percent. With the exception of 2014-15, there have been year on year increases in charges reported since the legislation introducing this aggravation came into force in 2010.

There were 284 charges reported in 2017-18 with an aggravation of prejudice relating to disability, 51 percent more than in 2016-17. This increase may be partially due to efforts to raise awareness of this type of crime, which is generally thought to be under reported.

The Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, said: “The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland’s independent public prosecution service, is committed to tackling hate crime.

“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.”