Antisemitic hate crimes rise 10% to second-highest level on record as religious hate crimes hit new peak

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

Police logged 3,162 antisemitic hate crimes in England and Wales in the year to March 2026, a 10% increase from 2,874 the year before. The rate of offences targeting Jewish people was roughly nine times that of those directed at Muslims. Overall, recorded hate crime rose 7% to 146,825 offences, while religious hate crimes — with Met Police figures set aside due to a recording system change — reached an all-time high of 8,214.

Hate crimes against Muslims rose 15%, with spikes in September 2025 during public disorder and in March after the US went to war with Iran.

Race hate crimes also hit a record high excluding Met data, at 90,378 offences — up 9% on the previous year.

Campaigners warned that violence is 'becoming a day-to-day reality' as the Home Office said the two-year rise is not seen in wider violent and public order trends, suggesting a 'genuine increase' in hatred.