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Race and religious hate crimes rose 41% after EU vote Race and religious hate crimes rose 41% after EU vote
(35 minutes later)
Racist or religious abuse incidents recorded by the police in England and Wales jumped 41% in the month after the EU referendum, official figures show. Racist or religious abuse incidents recorded by police in England and Wales jumped 41% in the month after the UK voted to quit the EU, figures show.
The number of hate crimes in the year 2015-16 were up 19% on the previous year, according to the Home Office. There were 3,886 such crimes logged in July 2015, rising to 5,468 in July this year, according to the Home Office.
Latest figures show that 62,518 offences were recorded by the police. It said the sharp increase declined in August but has "remained at a higher level than prior to the EU referendum".
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the government was "determined to stamp it out".
The number of hate crimes overall in the year 2015-16 were up 19% on the previous year.
Latest figures show that 62,518 offences were recorded by police.
Of these, 79% were motivated by race hate, 12% by sexual orientation, 7% by religion, 6% by disability and 1% were transgender hate crimes.Of these, 79% were motivated by race hate, 12% by sexual orientation, 7% by religion, 6% by disability and 1% were transgender hate crimes.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said the rise in hate crimes was "down to the nasty, divisive European referendum campaign that pulled apart communities, families and neighbours".
He claimed that the government has treated the post referendum landscape in "the same divisive way".
The National Police Chiefs' Council's (NPCC) lead on hate crime, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: "Numbers of hate crime incidents have fallen from the spike seen after the EU referendum but we still believe that many hate crimes are still not reported to us.
"We are determined to play our part in addressing hate crimes in our society, supported by government and third sector partners".
In July, the government published a hate crime action plan, which Ms Rudd said "sets out how we are further reducing hate crime, increasing reporting and improving support for victims".
She added: "Our hate crime laws are among the best in the world, but we cannot be complacent."
Assistant Chief Constable Hamilton said the NPCC was encouraged by the improved police reporting and support systems that had been put in place.
According to the Home Office, over the last year police forces have made efforts to improve their recording of crime statistics, especially for violence against person offences.
It said the improved records are "likely to be a factor" in the increase in hate crimes recorded by the police this year.