FEAR OVER RACE HATE CRIME RISE

Civil unrest blamed on anti-migrant agitators

- BY MARY WRIGHT

RACIST offences in Scotland are on the rise, accounting for 60 per cent of all hate crimes, shock figures have revealed.

Police Scotland recorded 5206 hate crimes between April and September - 317 up on the same period last year - with racially-motivated offences showing the “most notable increase”.

Figures show 3164 were racial offences 60 per cent - a rise of over six per cent, or 184 more, than the same period last year.

The data comes as anti-migrant protests grow, with many hotels co-opted by the Home Office into housing people seeking asylum.

The latest figures reveal there have been 32 hate crimes at accommodation housing migrants, 26 of which have been racially motivated.

There have been 13 hate crimes at the “most publicised accommodation that has seen the focus of anti-immigration protests”, 11 of which were racially aggravated.