Humza Yousaf

Developing Information on Hate Crime Recorded by the Police in Scotland also shows that 16 per cent of hate crimes included a sexual orientation aggravator; seven per cent a religion aggravator; four per cent a disability aggravator and one per cent a transgender identity aggravator.

The remaining five per cent had multiple hate aggravators.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are committed to tackling all forms of bigotry, prejudice and discrimination in Scotland and I welcome the new information in this report.

“This shows that around two-thirds of hate crimes are race-related, underlining the importance of our on-going efforts to tackle racism wherever it occurs.

“While the overall volume of hate crime dealt with by the police has remained stable, we also know that many incidents go unreported and we are determined to avoid a culture of acceptance.”

He added: “We all have a role to play in stamping out all forms of prejudice and ensuring Scotland is the inclusive and forward-thinking society that we want to be. Our message to perpetrators is clear, this kind of hatred will not be tolerated in Scotland.

“We will continue to support Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority as they work to develop more detailed information on hate crime.”