A RECORD number of racially and religiously aggravated offences were recorded by West Mercia Police last year, new analysis shows.

Last year, racially-motivated crime was put in the spotlight as three of England's footballers faced racist abuse after missing penalties during the European Championship final, resulting in the team being knocked out of the tournament.

New figures suggest this may have contributed to a spike in racially aggravated offences, as dozens of police forces reported record numbers of hate crimes due to race or religion in the same year.

Analysis of Home Office data by the PA news agency shows there were 1,012 racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded in West Mercia in 2021, a rise of 33 per cent from the 759 the year before.

It means more of these offences were reported to West Mercia Police last year than in any year since comparable data began in 2013.

Out of the 44 police forces across England and Wales, 39 saw an increase, and 34 saw an all-time high for racially and religiously aggravated crimes.

Assault, harassment and criminal damage are among the offences recorded.
Victim Support, a charity that works with victims of crime, called the figures “seriously concerning”.

Diana Fawcett, chief executive at Victim Support, said the organisation had recorded a similar increase in victims of hate crime coming to the charity.