Hate Crime, England and Wales, 2015/16
Figure A1 shows the monthly number of racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the
police in the last four years. There is an increase in these offences recorded in June 2016,19 followed
by an even sharper increase in July 2016.20 The number of aggravated offences recorded then
declined in August, but remained at a higher level than prior to the EU Referendum.21 These increases
fit the widely reported pattern of an increase in hate crime following the EU referendum. Whilst
January to May 2016 follows a similar level of hate crime to 2015, the number of racially or religiously
aggravated offences recorded by the police in July 2016 was 41% higher than in July 2015. The sharp
increase in offences is not replicated in the non-racially or religiously aggravated equivalent offences
(Figure A2).
Figure A1: Number of racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police, 2013
to 2016
6,000
5,000
Number of offences
4,000
3,000
2,000
2013
2014
2015
2016
1,000
0
Source: Police Recorded Crime, Home Office
18
Although data from the main police recorded crime collection are sent to the Home Office broken down by
month, the data are only quality assured with police forces on a quarterly basis.
19
There were seven full days in the month of June following the EU Referendum.
20
Police recorded crime figures for July and August 2016 have not been reconciled with police forces.
21
Figures for July 2016 exclude Derbyshire, figures for August 2016 exclude Derbyshire and Hampshire.
18