The Welsh Government is urging witnesses to support victims and report hate crime, as new figures reveal the continuing impact of hatred and prejudice on individuals and communities.
- New figures show there were 6,157 police-recorded hate crimes in Wales in 2025 to 2026.
- With hate crime remaining at an unbearably high level, the Welsh Government is encouraging people to stand together against hate and support those affected by hate crime.
- The Deputy First Minister says everyone should be able to feel safe, valued and respected in their community.
The call comes at the start of Hate Crime Awareness Week. Hate Crime Statistics for England and Wales 2025 to 2026, published by the Home Office on 8 October 2026, show there were 6,157 police-recorded hate crimes across Wales between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Across England and Wales as a whole, hate crime increased by 7%.
Hate crime is a criminal offence motivated by hostility or prejudice based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Victims and witnesses can report incidents directly to the police. Free and confidential support, independent from the police, is also available through the Welsh Government-funded Wales Hate Support Centre, delivered by Victim Support.
The impact of hate crime can be far-reaching. One family supported by the Centre experienced repeated race hate incidents in their neighbourhood. The parent became increasingly anxious about taking part in community activities, while their teenage child stopped spending as much time outdoors and became reluctant to invite friends to their home.
The Centre provided one-to-one support to both family members and worked with the family, police and partner organisations to improve their safety and address the behaviour.
Following this support, the incidents reduced significantly. The parent regained confidence in engaging with their local community, while the teenager began spending more time outside the home and inviting friends to visit again.
Victim Support’s Wales Hate Support Centre Manager, Becca Rosenthal, said:
Experiencing hate crime or hate-motivated anti-social behaviour can have a profound impact, not just on the individual directly affected, but on entire families and communities. Too often, people try to cope alone, believing that nothing can be done or worrying they won’t be taken seriously. However, it’s so important to reach out for support - with the right help, practical measures and partnership working, people can regain their confidence, feel safer, and take back control of their lives.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Sioned Williams, said:
The figures published this week are a reminder that hate crime remains a reality for too many people in Wales. We know many incidents still go unreported and these figures should not be viewed in isolation. We are working with police and criminal justice partners to break down barriers to reporting and ensure victims have the confidence to come forward.
Everyone should be able to feel safe, valued and respected in their community, and as a government, we stand firmly against prejudice and hatred in all its forms.
If you experience hate crime, report it and you will be supported. Reporting can help people get the help they need and prevent others from experiencing similar harm.
If you are a witness, you have a crucial role to play. You can put victims in control of what happens next. Your witness statement might be the critical factor which secures justice. We must stand up to hate together.
Call Victim Support free on 0300 3031 982 or visit www.reporthate.victimsupport.org.uk.