The Race for Human Rights team at CEMVO Scotland work on embedding anti-racism and human rights throughout public services in Scotland. One issue we have continually focused on over the course of the programme is racist hate crime. This has included contributing to the development of the National Hate Crime Strategy and it’s implementation through the Hate Crime Strategic Partnership Group.

A hate crime is an act that is both criminal and rooted in prejudice. This can be a verbal or physical act and includes online behaviour. Year on year, racist hate crime makes up the majority of reported hate crime. In 2024-24 6,019 charges containing at least one element of hate crime were reported to the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland and 56% of hate crime charges  related to race crime (1). In In 2023-24, police in Scotland recorded 6,227 hate crimes race as an aggravator for  63% (2).

It’s important to think about hate crime intersectionally, as they can be reported under more than one category. For example, a hate crime could be both racist and homophobic. However, at the moment intersectional data is not released so we don’t kow the prevalance of hate crimes reported under multiple categories. 

During National Hate Crime Awareness Week in 2025 we had conversations about the anger, fear and hurt in our communities as racist attacks continue to be widespread, including many high profile cases such as the far-right protests and riots in the summers of 2024 and 2025.

But we’ve also been talking about our hopes that we can challenge hate together and sharing ideas for how to move forward.

We’ve gathered some of those conversations in this video.

Let’s remember every week to challenge any and all rhetoric that sows division in our society. To advocate for better support for victims of hate crime. And to continue to fight for a vision of Scotland rooted in dignity, care and justice where members of minority ethnic communities don’t feel afraid.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate crime, support is available. Find information in the Hate Crime Toolkit | Victim Support Scotland.