Religious Hate Crimes in England and Wales Hit Record Highs

A 25% surge in religious hate crimes, primarily targeting Jews and Muslims, coincides with the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Police data shows religious hate crimes increased from 8,370 to 10,484 in the year ending March 2024, the highest since records began in 2012.
Hate crimes against Jewish people more than doubled to 3,282 incidents, while those against Muslims rose by 13% to 3,866 incidents.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel were a significant catalyst for the spike in hate crimes, particularly against Jews.
Despite a 5% overall decline in hate crimes, incidents motivated by race remain the most common, with 98,799 cases recorded.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents as a societal stain, urging strong legal action against perpetrators.