Police-recorded hate crime reached a new high in England and Wales in the 12 months ending March 2026, according to Home Office figures reported by The Guardian. The total stood at 146,825 offences, up 7% on the previous year.
Crimes targeting Muslims recorded the largest increase among the religious categories cited in the data. Police logged 5,132 such offences, a rise of 15% from 4,479 in the preceding 12-month period.
Antisemitic hate crimes also increased, rising 10% to 3,162 recorded offences from 2,874 a year earlier. The figures underline sustained pressure on police and public institutions to respond to hate-motivated offending affecting religious communities.
The government’s principal partner on Islamophobia has also warned that attacks on mosques are becoming more severe. The data measure offences recorded by police and therefore reflect reports that have reached law-enforcement authorities.