Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) charged and (b) convicted of homophobic hate crimes in the UK in each of the last five years.

All forms of hate crime are deplorable and it’s important that victims are protected and have the confidence to come forward. The Government is driving forward work to tackle hostility and hate crime. We have toughened up sentencing and are working closely with the police and other agencies to increase reporting, improve support and prevent these terrible crimes happening in the first place.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences relating to acts intended to stir up religious hatred or hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, under Sections 29B to 29G of the Public Order Act 1986, in England & Wales, from 2009-2013 (latest data available) can be viewed in table 1. The data held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on court proceedings do not specifically identify whether the stirring up hatred offence prosecuted was on grounds of religious hatred or sexual orientation.

The number of offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to acts intended to stir up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, under Sections 29B to 29G of the Public Order Act 1986, in England & Wales, from 2009-2013 (latest data available) can be viewed in table 2.