Racial, Religious Hate Crimes Surge on UK Public Transport
Statistics from the British Transport Police indicate racial hate crimes logged across England, Wales, and Scotland jumped from 2,827 incidents in 2019–20 to 3,258 in 2024–25, demonstrating a consistent upward trajectory on railway and bus infrastructure.
Law enforcement agencies have additionally documented an escalation in religious hate crimes, with Muslims in England and Wales bearing the brunt of targeting. Meanwhile, Scotland has experienced a dramatic spike in racially motivated incidents during the identical timeframe.
The Guardian obtained data showing religious hate crime cases recorded by the British Transport Police climbed from 343 in 2019–20 to 419 in 2023–24, before declining moderately to 372 in 2024–25.
Akeela Ahmed, chief executive of the British Muslim Trust, stated the statistics mirror accounts her organization has collected nationwide and called on authorities "to take urgent and meaningful action."
"For visible Muslims in particular, the top deck of a bus or a half-empty train carriage can mean threatening behaviour, verbal abuse, or even violent attack simply because of their faith," Ahmed said.
She characterized incidents reported on public transport as among the most complex and distressing cases her group handles.
Ahmed emphasized it was alarming that a significant number of reported assaults, both verbal and physical, have involved children travelling to and from school, warning that limited CCTV coverage on buses and at stops allows perpetrators to escape accountability.
"Abuse, intimidation and violence – especially that which is motivated by hate – will never be tolerated, and we have acted swiftly and decisively when we receive reports of hate crimes on the rail network," a British Transport Police spokesperson was quoted by The Guardian as saying.
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