STORY
Police recorded 2,561 racist incidents and 1,615 race hate crimes in Northern Ireland during the 12 months ending 30 June 2026. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said both were the highest totals recorded since its comparable figures began in 2004.
The figures represent an increase of 503 racist incidents and 268 race hate crimes compared with the preceding 12 months. June 2026 produced a record monthly total of 512 racist incidents, during a period which included several days of racist violence, attacks and intimidation. Incidents and crimes are reported separately because not every incident recorded by the police is subsequently classified as a criminal offence.
Amnesty International said eight of the ten highest monthly totals for racist incidents since 2004 occurred during the latest reporting period. The organisation called upon the Northern Ireland Executive to introduce a comprehensive anti-racism strategy and reform hate crime legislation. These are Amnesty’s policy demands, while the figures themselves relate to matters reported to and recorded by the police and do not necessarily represent every racist incident which occurred.