Most hate crimes in Scotland are racist offences figures show

The data, reported by the Sunday Mail, found racist offences in Scotland are on the rise and account for 60% of all hate crimes.

Police Scotland recorded 5206 hate crimes between April and September this year, an increase of 317 compared to the same period last year.

READ MORE: John Swinney issues statement as at least 12 killed in Bondi Beach shooting

Of these, there were 3164 racial offences (60% of total hate crimes committed), an increase of 184 – or 6% – than the previous year.

Racially-motivated offences were seen to have the "most notable increase" compared to other forms of hate crimes.

Meanwhile, other hate offences targeting age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and transgender and variations in sex characteristics, made up 2345 of the total figure.

It comes as anti-migrant protests continue to take place in Scotland, many of which occur outside hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers.

Figures published by the Sunday Mail found there have been 32 hate crimes at accommodation housing asylum seekers, 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.

Police Scotland confirmed this referred to Falkirk, where repeated clashes have taken place between anti-migrant protesters and counter-demonstrators.

Anti-migrant protesters and counter-demonstrators protest in Falkirk on December 6 (Image: PA)

But a force report which was sent to the Scottish Police Authority last week stated: “The aforementioned crimes are only crimes linked to accommodation and didn’t necessarily take place at the time of the protests.

“Additionally, it is not possible to determine from the data how many hate crimes overall are the result of heightened protests regarding immigration.”

The National previously told how Perth and Kinross Council recorded a rise in racist incidents targeting asylum seekers.

A report published last month claimed that a young asylum seeker was attacked with an egg, while another was verbally abused and threatened in Perth city centre.