Police records of hate crimes have reached a record high, with some 105,090 incidents reported in England and Wales in the year to March 2020. The data – published by the Home Office on 13 October – represents an eight per cent increase on the previous year.

Racially motivated crimes were up by six per cent, with 72 per cent of all hate crimes (76,070) having a racial dimension. Hate crimes targeted against a person’s sexual orientation had risen at an even faster rate, by 19 per cent in a year. Hate crimes against transgender people and those with a disability rose 16 per cent and nine per cent respectively.

The only type of hate crime that saw a decrease was religious hate crime, with five per cent fewer incidents than during 2018-2019.