Stonewall responds to new Home Office hate crime statistics issued today
Today, the Home Office released new hate crime statistics for the year March 2023 to March 2024.
Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall said:
“While the Home Office official statistics released today reveals a drop in reported hate crime motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity, the huge increase in religious hate crimes in the last year is deeply worrying.
We stand together with everyone affected by hate crime, whatever community they are part of. We know hate crime has a ripple effect. A rise in hatred towards one marginalised group is harmful to everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, and has a corrosive effect across society.
We need to work together to stand hand in hand against hate crime and report it when we see it happen. We know hate crime reported to the police is only part of the picture, so it’s vital all those affected have access to support. The fight against hatred is shared, so we must work together to build a society where everyone is safe and respected and free from harm.”
The need for accurate reporting
While these official statistics suggest there is a downward trend in reported hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, the official numbers may not paint the full picture.
Our research shows less than half of LGBTQ+ people feel safe holding their partner’s hand in public. And according to a survey by Galop, only 1 in 8 people reported their experiences to the police.
To reflect the true picture of hate crime, reporting needs to be as accurate as possible. There has been a lot of work to improve reporting. But there’s more to do to inform the community about reporting routes and ensure those affected by hate crime can access support. We are further reminded of the need for this support on World Mental Health Day.
And we are working to remove barriers to reporting and to better understand anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes.
We are encouraged by the new Government’s pledge in their manifesto to make anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes an aggravated offence, which would mean anti-LGBTQ+ people have the same protections as people who experience other hate crimes. We look forward to hearing more when it will come into force.
We’re campaigning for LGBTQ+ safety with our Hold My Hand campaign. Find out how can support the campaign and stand hand in hand with us.
How to report anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime
Anti-LGBTQ+ hate should be reported to the authorities, but for those who aren’t ready to go to the police, it can also be flagged using new technologies such as our Zoteria app. Through Zoteria, people can get direct support from Galop to make an official police report, if they wish to do so.