Capital sees decline in recorded hate crimes

Published on 18/03/2013 12:00

HATE crime reported to police in Edinburgh fell by seven per cent during a nine-month period, new figures have revealed.

A total of 996 hate crimes were recorded in the Capital between last April and December compared to the three-year average of 1073.

Racist incidents fell by eight per cent, dropping to 830 against the three-year average of 905. But a large rise was recorded for hate crimes involving sexual orientation, up 46 per cent from 81 to 118. Hate crimes linked to disability decreased by 30 per cent, from 23 down to 16, and age-related hate offences dropped by 83 per cent from 12 to two.

Police recorded two gender hate crimes compared with an average of three, while hate offences tied to religion or beliefs also fell from 37 to 22, a 41 per cent decline.

Across the whole of Lothian and Borders, hate crime dropped by seven per cent.