Police-recorded hate crimes in Suffolk up 12% in a year
There were 1,076 offences recorded in the county in the year to March
The number of hate crimes recorded by police in Suffolk has risen in the past year according to new figures.
There were 1,076 offences recorded in the year to March, up 12% from the previous year.
The force recorded 728 race hate crimes, 40 religious hate crimes, 176 sexual orientation hate crimes, 127 disability hate crimes and 47 transgender hate crimes.
Some crimes are recorded as having more than one motivating factor.
Nationally, the majority of hate crimes recorded by police across the UK were racially motivated - in line with previous years - and increased by 19% from the year ending 2021.
It is the first time the number of racially motivated hate crimes recorded over a year has topped 100,000.
Religious hate crimes rose by 37% to reach the highest level since records began in 2012.
Sexual orientation hate crimes increased by 41%, disability hate crimes by 43%, and transgender identity hate crimes by 56%.
Fewer hate crimes motivated by transgender identity were recorded compared with all other motivations, but this group saw the biggest percentage rise.
In Suffolk, transgender hate crimes more than doubled from 21 to 47.
The Home Office said transgender issues have been "heavily discussed on social media" over the last year, which may have led to an increase in related hate crimes.
Its report, published on Thursday, said: "It is uncertain to what degree the increase in police-recorded hate crime is a genuine rise or due to continued recording improvements and more victims having the confidence to report these crimes to the police."
The rise in the latest year was partly due to the "suppressant effect" of public health restrictions in place during the pandemic, when lower levels of crime were recorded, it added.
Triggers for short-term, genuine rises in recent years include the EU referendum in June 2016, terror attacks in 2017, and the Black Lives Matter protests and far-right counter-protests in summer 2020.
According to analysis of figures submitted by 26 forces to the Home Office, 9% of hate crime flagged offences had been dealt with by a charge or summons, slightly below 10% in year ending March 2021.
Seven per cent of violence against the person offences, flagged as hate crimes, were dealt with by a charge or summons, as were 5% of criminal damage and arson hate crime flagged offences.
One in 10 public order offences flagged as hate crimes were dealt with by a charge or summons.