Hate crime continues to rise across England and Wales, with 146,825 offences recorded by police in the year ending March 2026, a 7 per cent increase on the previous year. Against this backdrop, more than 5,000 hate crimes were recorded against police officers in 2025/26, despite not all forces being able to provide data.

The figures have strengthened our calls for greater protection for officers. Those subjected to racist, religious and other forms of hateful abuse while serving the public deserve the same recognition, support and justice as any other victim of hate crime.

Lee Sims, chair of Humberside Police Federation, said: "The rise in hate crime is a stark reminder that prejudice and abuse remain far too common in our society. Nobody should face hatred because of who they are, whether that's in their community or while serving it.

“Police officers are also regularly subjected to racist, religious and other forms of hateful abuse while protecting the public, yet too often those responsible escape meaningful consequences.

“Statistics from a Freedom of Information request that we carried out show there were over 5,000 hate crimes recorded against police officers in 2025/26. And not all forces in England and Wales were able to provide data.

“Through our Protect The Protectors: Stop Racism Against Police campaign, we're calling for a change in the law to make racial attacks against police officers a separate recordable offence, and for perpetrators to be treated with the full extent of the law and held accountable.

“Hate is hate, and there can be no excuses and no exceptions.”