11/12/2012

Scotland's Racist Incidents Rise 10%

Racist incidents in Scotland recorded by police have risen 10%, according to new statistics.

The report, 'Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland, 2011-12', showed the figure now stands at 5,389 for 2011/12, compared with 4,911 in 2010/11.

Scotland's Minister for Community Safety, Roseanna Cunningham, said the rise was "all the more disheartening" given the "downward trend observed in recent years".

She added: "However, we know that this is not always due to an increased number of crimes taking place, but can instead be attributed to individuals and communities being better engaged with the police and having more confidence to report perpetrators of such crimes, and that when reporting a crime their complaint will be taken seriously.

"Scotland has an outstanding reputation as a welcoming and tolerant nation and we cannot let a minority of people tarnish our image. We want Scotland to be a country where all our people can live free from fear and discrimination."

The minister said £6m was being invested up to 2015 to support initiatives to help combat the issue of "bigotry and hatred of all kinds".

The main findings of the report show the number of crimes recorded as part of a racist incident in 2011/12 stood at 6,472, an increase of 5% on the 6,173 recorded in 2010/11.

34% of victims of a racist incident were aged 26 to 35 years, compared with 13% who were aged 20 or under.

Men were found to be more likely victims of a racist incident at 17 per 10,000 population, while females stood at 6 per 10,000 population.

44% of victims were of Asian origin: a group comprising Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese or other Asian. The largest group was Pakistani at 23%.

The second largest ethnic group of victims of racist incidents was white British.

40% of perpetrators were aged 20 or under.

(IT)

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