Religious hate crimes in England and Wales have surged by 25%, reaching record levels amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to government statistics.
The number of reported incidents rose from 8,370 to 10,484 in the year ending March, driven by an increase in offences targeting Jewish people and, to a lesser extent, Muslims, the Home Office reported. Meanwhile, the overall number of hate crimes declined.
The 10,484 religious hate crimes marked the highest annual total since records began in March 2012. The report attributed the spike to a surge in hate crimes against Jewish people following the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. While the numbers have since dropped, they remain higher than pre-conflict levels.
In the year ending March 2024, 3,282 religious hate crimes targeted Jewish people—more than double the previous year’s figure—accounting for 33% of all religious hate crimes. In comparison, the previous year’s proportion was 20%.
There was also a 13% rise in hate crimes against Muslims, reaching 3,866 reported incidents. Nearly 38% of all religious hate crimes targeted Muslims, the report noted.
Other religious groups were also affected, with 702 incidents reported against Christians, 193 against Hindus, and 216 against Sikhs, making up 7%, 2%, and 2% of total religious hate crimes, respectively.
Overall, 140,561 hate crimes were reported, marking a 5% decrease from the previous year and the second consecutive annual drop. Reports of hate crimes based on race, sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity also declined.
Between January and June 2024, the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 1,978 anti-Jewish hate incidents, up from 964 in the same period in 2023. Of these, 1,037 were reported in Greater London, with 411 in Barnet, home to the largest Jewish community in the UK. Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire followed with 268 and 115 incidents, respectively.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the sharp increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes, calling them a “stain on society” and vowing that the government would work to eradicate such toxic hatred. “We must not allow events in the Middle East to translate into increased hatred and tension on our streets,” she said, stressing that those responsible would face the full force of the law.
It has been over a year since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 250 hostages. In response, Israel initiated a military campaign in Gaza, which has reportedly killed over 41,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
