Reported hate crime increased 17% last year to a record high, with the number of offences linked to the victim’s race, sexual identity or disability all on the rise.
Figures for 2025-26 show there were 7,115 charges containing at least one element of hate crime.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said this was the highest number reported since 2003-04, when figures first became available.
Scotland’s most senior prosecutor, Lord Advocate Ruth Charteris KC, said the rise in “reports of crime motivated by racial, sexual orientation and disability aggravated hatred should concern us all”.
She insisted 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 racially-motived offences continued to be the most commonly reported form of hate crime, with 3,990 reported in 2025-26.
This was a rise of 17% on the previous year, and the highest number of such charges since 2013-14.
Cases involving sexual orientation were the second most common form of reported hate crime, with 2,062 incidents in 2025-26 – a rise of 20% from the previous year and the highest number since legislation creating the aggravation was introduced in 2010.
There were 1,370 crimes where disability was recorded as an aggravating factor, 25% more than in 2024-25 – which was also the highest recorded since laws creating the aggravation came into force in 2010.There were 537 charges with a religious aggravation reported in 2025-26, up 5.1% on the previous year – although the total was said to be “broadly in line with numbers over the last five years”.
There were 104 charges where a person’s transgender identity was an aggravating factor, up 21% from the 86 reported in 2024-25. Once again this total was the highest number since the legislation creating the aggravation came into force in 2010.
Victims and community safety minister Kirsten Oswald said recent events “have highlighted increased levels of intimidation”, saying there had been an impact on “communities who may already be feeling vulnerable”.
She added: “These latest figures show that hate crime remains a serious issue in Scotland and this Government stands firmly against any form of hatred, prejudice or intolerance and the rhetoric which underpins it.
“Everyone deserves to live free from harm, and no-one in Scotland should fear being targeted because of who they are.”
Ms Charteris said: “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.”
A total of 94% of hate crime charges last year resulted in some form of action by prosecutors, she said, with only 2% resulting in no action.
Ms Charteris said: “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.”