Greater Manchester Records England, Wales’ Highest Hate Crime Rate, Muslims Most Targeted in Religious Attacks

Greater Manchester Records England, Wales’ Highest Hate Crime Rate, Muslims Most Targeted in Religious Attacks
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Greater Manchester has recorded the highest rate of hate crime per capita in England and Wales, while Muslims remain the most frequently targeted group in religiously motivated offences, according to the latest police statistics.

The region recorded approximately 11,500 hate crimes, equivalent to 383 incidents per 100,000 residents. London’s Metropolitan Police recorded the highest total number, with more than 22,800 cases.

In Merseyside, police recorded 5,827 hate crimes in the year ending March 2026, up from 5,182 the previous year and 2,317 a decade earlier. Race-related offences accounted for 3,666 cases, around two-thirds of the total. Police said improved recording practices and greater confidence among victims in reporting incidents contributed to the increase.

Glasgow also experienced a rise in racially motivated hate crime, with reported cases increasing by 34% during the first quarter of the financial year, from 418 to 560.

Across England and Wales, authorities recorded 107,926 race-related hate crimes and 11,419 religiously motivated offences during 2025–2026. The overall number of hate crimes rose by 7%, excluding Metropolitan Police data. Muslims were targeted in 5,132 religious hate crime cases, compared with 3,162 cases involving Jewish victims.

Akila Ahmed, chief executive of the British Muslim Trust, warned of growing anti-Muslim hostility, racism against Black communities and hostility toward refugees. She stressed that such behaviour comes from a minority and that most people in Britain continue to support respect and tolerance.