Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2019 to Question 433, on Hate Crime, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the increase in hate crimes recorded by the police on the grounds of (a) race, (b) religion, (c) sexual orientation, (d) disability and (e) transgender identity from 2011-12 to 2018-19; and if she will make a statement.

Police recorded hate crime has increased since these figures were first collected by the Home Office in 2011-12. This is largely due to improvements in police recording practices and more victims coming forward to report, but also recognising spikes following incidents like terrorist attacks. Increased reporting is a key theme of the Hate Crime Action Plan, to help ensure that victims receive the support they need, and offenders are brought to justice.

Information on hate crime offences recorded by the police forces in England and Wales can be found in Appendix Table 1 of the Hate Crime, England and Wales, 2018/19 statistical bulletin available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hate-crime-england-and-wales-2018-to-2019

In contrast, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (published last year) shows a downward trend in hate crime, which has fallen by 40% over the past decade.

We do however recognise that this might not be the experience within some communities, and that is why this Government remains committed to tackling all forms of hate crime.

The cross-Government Hate Crime Action Plan (Action Against Hate: The UK Government’s plan for tackling hate crime) was published in 2016 and refreshed in October last year. This plan has improved the response to all forms of hate crime and the refreshed publication ensures a renewed commitment that victims remain at the heart of our work.

Some commitments within the Action Plan include just over £1.5 million for projects to tackle racially and religiously motivated hatred, launch of a public awareness campaign and asking the Law Commission to review hate crime legislation, among other important initiatives.

Following the attacks in Christchurch, the former Home Secretary increased the funding for the Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme to £1.6m for 2019/20, double the amount awarded last year, announced a new £5m security training scheme for places of worship and committed to a public consultation to understand what more could be done to protect faith institutions. In September, the Chancellor announced a further £3.2m for the fifth year of the Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme for 2020/21.