Increased levels of race hate incidents recorded by police
Date published:
New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) present data on incidents and crimes with a hate motivation recorded by the police in the 12 months to 31 March 2026
Key findings
In the 12 months from 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026:
- Race hate incidents and crimes reached their highest ever recorded levels since the data series began in 2004/05. There were 2,367 race incidents recorded, up 561 (31%) on the previous year and 1,507 race crimes, an increase of 320 (27%).
- The rise in race incidents and crimes is linked to periods of civil unrest in August 2024 and June 2025. Eight of the ten highest monthly totals for race incidents in the entire data series were recorded between June 2025 and March 2026.
- Incidents rose across four of the six hate motivations (race, sectarian, disability and faith/religion) when compared with the previous 12 months. Crimes increased across three motivations: race, sectarian and disability.
- There were 981 sectarian incidents and 653 sectarian crimes recorded, increases of 71 and 65 respectively on the previous year. Despite this rise, 2025/26 recorded the sixth lowest level of sectarian incidents since the data series began.
- Sexual orientation incidents fell slightly from 362 to 359. The number of sexual orientation crimes remained stable at 219.
- Transgender identity incidents and crimes fell by the largest margin of any motivation, from 64 to 57 incidents and from 36 to 27 crimes.
About this publication
This bulletin provides an overview of hate motivated incidents and crimes recorded by the police in Northern Ireland in the 12 months to 31 March 2026. The report covers all six hate motivation strands monitored by PSNI: race, sexual orientation, sectarianism, faith/religion (non-sectarian), disability and transgender identity.
These are official statistics produced by NISRA statisticians seconded to PSNI Statistics Branch. Data collection began in 2004/05. Revisions have been applied to figures from previous financial years. The next update, covering the 12 months to 30 June 2026, will be published on 27 August 2026.
Further information
Read the full report, data tables and background information: Hate Motivation Statistics | PSNI