James Kelly

Disaggregated data on racially-motivated hate crime has not been published since 2013-14 and Scottish Labour is calling for updated figures to be released ahead of the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order Bill.

Data on religiously aggravated hate crime was last updated in 2017-18.

Currently, aggregated statistics on hate crime are published annually by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. However, this data does not give an insight into which races and religions are disproportionately targeted.

Scottish Labour justice spokesperson, James Kelly, said: “I have been vocal about my reservations around Part Two of the Hate Crime Bill in particular but I am especially concerned that the most recent available disaggregated data relating to racial hate crime is now seven years out of date. Up-to-date data on hate crime is essential to inform the debate on this controversial piece of legislation.

“The annual aggregated data published by COPFS is a damning indictment of hate crime in Scotland in itself but it only provides part of the picture. Without disaggregated data it is impossible to identify which races and religions are disproportionately impacted. 

“I have made clear in my submission to the Justice Committee’s call for views on the Hate Crime Bill that there is a need for an accessible, comprehensive and regularly updated breakdown of data on hate crime in Scotland.

“It is vital that up-to-date data is made available in order to fully contextualise the stark reality of hate crime in Scotland so that MSPs can legislate accordingly.”