The Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI's) Statistics Branch published its quarterly update of incidents and crimes with a hate motivation on Thursday, August 28.
In Northern Ireland, there were 2,049 race incidents recorded by the police in the 12 months from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, 646 higher than for the previous 12 months, and the highest 12-month figure since the data series began in 2004/05.
In the same period, there were 1,329 race crimes recorded by the police, an increase of 434 on the previous 12 months, and also the highest 12-month figure since the data series began in 2004/05.
A hate crime is defined as any criminal offence which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards someone based on a personal characteristic.
Not all hate-motivated incidents will result in the recording of a crime, as what has occurred in the incident may not be of the level of severity that would result in a crime being recorded.
The quarterly update went on to report that there were 11 race incidents and seven race crimes per 10,000 population, compared with seven race incidents and five race crimes per 10,000 population in the previous 12 months.
Race crimes represented 1.4% of all police recorded crime in the 12-month period, the report added.
The report notes that two periods of unrest contributed to the higher levels of race incidents in this period - 349 incidents were recorded in August 2024, and 345 incidents were recorded in June 2025. Both months were more than twice
the level recorded in July 2024 (171), which itself had recorded the previous highest level in the data series.
Trends of race incidents and crimes in Northern Ireland
The report adds: "Following a decline in levels of race incidents and crimes between 2009/10 and 2011/12, increases were seen each year between 2011/12 and 2014/15.
"Levels subsequently trended downwards between 2014/15 and 2019/20.
"Since 2020/21, there has been a sharp rise in the number of race incidents and crimes.
"A period of unrest during the summer of 2024 contributed to 2024/25 reaching the highest level of race motivated incidents and crimes in the data series."
The bulletin further added that while there were more race incidents when compared with the previous 12 months, there were fewer sexual orientation, sectarian, disability, and transgender identity incidents.
"It's a crisis"
Responding to the findings, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said: “This has been a year of hate and fear in Northern Ireland and a shameful new record; the highest number of racist hate crimes ever recorded. This isn't just a headline, it's a crisis.
“Behind these figures are real people, real families, living in terror simply because of the colour of their skin or where they come from. This hasn’t happened in a vacuum. This has been a crisis developing for years, fuelled by complacency and inaction.
“The racist riots in Belfast last summer, followed by the brutal attacks on migrant families this June, were not isolated. They are the symptoms of a society that has failed to confront racism and are indicative of a tide of hate that has been rising for years.
"Political leaders and the PSNI should be treating this as the crisis it now is, with vigilante gangs prowling the streets and families afraid for their children as they go back to school.
“Hate crime thrives when politicians deliver words but no action. The Executive must show leadership and deliver an effective plan to tackle racism when the current ineffectual Race Equality Strategy comes to an end in a few months.
"Racism has no place here – it’s time our institutions proved it.”
Racist crimes hit record high in Northern Ireland.
Behind these figures are real families living in fear of racist hate every day.
This crisis has been developing for years, fuelled by complacency and inaction.
Northern Ireland needs an effective anti-racism strategy NOW pic.twitter.com/p7ogio94Mg
— Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) August 28, 2025
Racially motivated attack in south Belfast
Meanwhile, the same day the data was published, the PSNI announced that two people had been arrested following a racially motivated attack on a property in south Belfast early that morning.
The two males - one aged 12 and one aged 18 - were subsequently charged with riotous behavior and are due to appear in court in September.
“This incident was exceptionally serious involving the targeting of a family in their own home, motivated by racial hatred," South Belfast District Commander Superintendent Finola Dornan said on Thursday.
“Our officers acted quickly and effectively, making two arrests, however the ages of those involved are of particular concern.
“Racist intimidation and targeting is completely unacceptable. I would like to reassure the entire local community that we will continue to be visible so as to prevent and detect offending of this nature, holding those responsible to account through the courts."
Dornan added: “This behaviour does not reflect the people of the local area. No family should have to go through this and the harm is felt by everyone in the community."
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