In 2025-26, the total number of charges reported containing at least one element of hate crime was 7115, an increase of 17% compared to 2024-25. This is the highest number reported over the period since 2003-04 when figures first became available.
The annual report on Hate Crime in Scotland, released today (30 June 2026) publishes figures on race crime, and on crime motivated by prejudice related to religion, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity, age and variations in sex characteristics.
In total 3990 charges relating to race crime were reported in 2025-26, an increase of 17% compared to the previous year. This is the highest number of charges reported since 2013-14. Race crime remains the most commonly reported hate crime, featuring in 56% of all hate crime charges.
Similarly, there has been a 20% increase in sexual orientation aggravated crime [from 1719 to 2062 charges] and a 25% increase in disability aggravated crime [from 1099 to 1370 charges].
Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC drew attention to the increase and pledged that prosecutors would listen to and respond to the experiences of those targeted.
She said: “An increase in reports of crime motivated by racial, sexual orientation and disability aggravated hatred should concern us all.
“Everyone who lives in Scotland is entitled to feel safe and every hate crime represents a decision to target a person because of who they are.
“I want to reach out to communities across Scotland and say that prosecutors are here to ensure that every report of a crime motivated by hate will be carefully considered and brought before the court where appropriate.
“That commitment is reflected in our response to reports of hate crime. Last year, 94% of charges resulted in prosecutorial action, while only 2% of all hate crime charges reported resulted in no prosecutorial action.
“We each have a role to play in challenging the actions of those who are motivated by prejudice and hate. Today’s publication highlights that prosecutors remain focused on holding offenders to account, helping to ensure Scotland is a place where everyone can live free from the threat of hatred or abuse.”
The figures show increases across several categories of hate crime, including offences aggravated by disability, sexual orientation, religion and transgender identity.
The number of sexual orientation aggravated crime is the highest number of charges reported since legislation creating this aggravation first came into force in 2010, and reverses a slight downward trend in charges reported in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The proportion of hate crime charges that relate to sexual orientation was 29% in 2025-26.
Figures also show that the number of disability aggravated charges increased by 25% to 1370 in 2025-26. This is the highest annual number of charges reported since the legislation was introduced and continues an almost unbroken upward trend in the numbers since this aggravation came into force in 2010.
There were 537 charges with a religious aggravation reported in 2025-26, 5.1% more than in 2024-25.
There were 104 charges reported in 2025-26 with an aggravation of transgender identity, compared with 86 reported in 2024-25. This is the highest number of such charges since legislation creating this aggravation first came into force in 2010.
Notes for editors
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A full copy of the publication can be accessed at: https://www.copfs.gov.uk/publications/hate-crime-in-scotland-2025-26/
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The figures quoted relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges. Where a charge has more than one hate crime aggravation, it is included in the overall figures for each type of hate crime into which it falls.
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The publication does not include information on convictions or conviction rates. Many of the charges reported in 2025-26 will not yet have reached conviction stage. The Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database is the usual source for convictions data, and they have published figures for years up to 2023-24 on people with a main charge proved with an aggravator recorded - see tables 12 and 13 at Criminal+Proceedings+in+Scotland+-+2023-24+-+Main+tables.xlsx
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Last year, 94% of charges resulted in prosecutorial action, while only 2% of all hate crime charges reported resulted in no action. The remaining 4% covers charges awaiting a marking decision.