Brief
Hate crime incidents rise 7% in England and Wales in year to March 2026
Police recorded 146,825 hate‑crime offences, with Muslim‑targeted incidents up 15% and antisemitic offences up 10%.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Home Office figures released on 8 October 2026 show hate‑crime offences in England and Wales rose by seven per cent in the year to March 2026, totalling 146,825 incidents, the Independent reported.
What happened
Police recorded 146,825 hate‑crime offences in the year to March 2026, a seven‑per‑cent increase on the previous year. Offences against Muslim victims climbed 15 per cent to 5,132, while antisemitic incidents rose 10 per cent to 3,162.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that the Muslim‑targeted spike coincided with far‑right demonstrations in September 2025 and the US‑Iran conflict in February 2025. Antisemitic incidents surged in October 2025 after the Heaton Park Synagogue attack, amid the Israel‑Hamas war.
What was said
Human‑rights groups including Amnesty International UK, the British Muslim Trust and the Community Security Trust called the trend “a day‑to‑day reality across the UK”.
How it came about
Earlier this year, the Home Office warned of rising hate‑crime levels, and community organisations have repeatedly urged the government to allocate more resources to counter the surge.
Key facts
- Hate‑crime offences rose 7% to 146,825 in England and Wales to March 2026 (independent.co.uk)
- Offences against Muslims increased 15% to 5,132 (independent.co.uk)
- Antisemitic incidents grew 10% to 3,162 (independent.co.uk)
- London recorded 20,753 racially motivated incidents, the highest regional total (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Hate crimes ‘becoming day-to-day reality’ after sharp rise in incidents”
