UK Police Report Surge in Antisemitic and Islamophobic Hate Crimes Over 18 Months

Hate crime spikes linked to the 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict and 2024 Southport attacks highlight growing concerns over religious intolerance.

Police data reveals significant increases in religious hate crimes, with antisemitic incidents peaking in late 2023 and Islamophobic offences rising sharply in mid-2024.
Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and the Metropolitan Police recorded some of the largest spikes, with antisemitic cases surging after the October 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict and Islamophobic cases increasing after the Southport attacks in July 2024.
The government has pledged £47.4 million annually for protective security for Jewish and Muslim communities through 2028, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to hate crimes.
Jewish and Muslim advocacy groups criticized the lack of effective measures to address these crimes, calling for stronger action and community support.
The figures, collected via Freedom of Information requests, show year-on-year increases in hate crimes across most police forces, with urban areas experiencing the highest volumes.