Hate crimes in Suffolk reach 700 a year as racial abuse rises

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 07:08 · Archive

Suffolk recorded around 700 hate crimes annually, with racial abuse increasing, the Police and Crime Commissioner has said.

Suffolk has recorded around 700 hate crimes each year, with Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore describing the figures as 'completely unacceptable'. Within those offences, there has been a slight increase in racial abuse and hate crime.

Nationally, hate crime offences have reached record levels. Home Office figures show 146,825 hate crime offences were recorded in the year to March 2026, the highest ever recorded. Religious hate crime rose 13 per cent to 11,419 offences, while racial hate crimes, which made up the majority, increased 9 per cent to 107,926 offences.

Mr Passmore joined the Roma community at the Standing Together Against Hate conference in Ipswich, organised by Union Romani Voice, a Roma-led charity supporting European citizens and Roma communities facing discrimination and exclusion. He said 'there is far more that unites us than divides us'. Around 60 delegates from community groups attended the event and signed a 'No Hate in Suffolk' charter to reaffirm their commitment to challenging hate and fostering inclusion.

How it is being reported

• 700 hate crimes recorded in Suffolk as 'unacceptable' racial abuse risesRacial and religious hate crime has reached record levels across the UK, something which Suffolk's PCC has branded "unacceptable".East Anglian Daily Times · 25 Oct, 06:00
• 700 hate crimes recorded in Suffolk as 'unacceptable' racial abuse risesRacial and religious hate crime has reached record levels across the UK, something which Suffolk's PCC has branded "unacceptable".Ipswich Star · 25 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Tim Passmore · Suffolk · Union Romani Voice · Ipswich

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem