October 23, 2025 | Incident and Crime Statistics , Hate Crime and Equality
Request Number: FOI/15866
Category: Incident and Crime Statistics - Hate Crime and Equality
Subject: Hate Crimes
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) does hold information to which your request relates. However the decision has been taken not to supply the information you have requested as the Information is Reasonably Accessible by Other Means – Section 21 and Information is intended for Future Publication – Section 22 of FOI Act, which is set out in more detail below.
We do not however hold information in relation for the years prior to 2004. We have also provided you with links to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office which we have followed in responding to your request.
Question
As part of a research project, I am looking for data on the annual number and types of hate crimes by local authority district in the UK from 1995 onwards.
Could you please supply data in calendar years of hate crimes in Northern Ireland by local authority district?
Answer
Years 1995 - 2003
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) does not hold information in relation to the years prior to 2004. Enquiries made in relation to your request failed to locate any records or documents relevant to your request based on the information you have provided.
PSNI can advise that we did not record hate crimes prior to 2004.
Accordingly, we have determined that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not hold the information to which you seek access.
Years 2004 - 2025
This request is being refused as the Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means.
The full hate crime data series from 2004/05 to 2023/24 is published in our annual Trends in Hate Motivated Incidents and Crimes bulletin. These are broken down by policing district.
Please note that our quarterly update bulletin provides a district breakdown for race, sexual orientation and sectarian motivated hate crimes only. These are published on the PSNI website:
Exemption explained
Section 17(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires the Police Service of Northern Ireland, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if not otherwise apparent) why the exemption applies.
The exemption/s, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 21(1) - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means - Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.
Section 22 – Information intended for future publication
The full text of exemptions can be found at www.legislation.gov.uk and further guidance on how they operate can be located on the Information Commissioners Office website www.ico.org.uk.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 it has been decided to refuse access to the information you have requested. Under Section 22(1)(a) of the Act the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is not obliged to disclose information that is held with a view to its publication at some future date.
The requested figures for 2024/25 are published in our end of year quarterly update bulletin, and will be included in the next update to the Annual Trends bulletin which is scheduled for publication in November 2025.
Section 22 is a qualified exemption so therefore the PSNI is obliged to carry out a Public Interest Test.
Public Interest Test
Factors Favouring Release
Disclosure of requested information would demonstrate PSNI’s openness and transparency. Will also highlight to the Public scale of hate crimes committed on transgender community in Northern Ireland.
Factors Favouring Retention
The spending of additional funds in order to facilitate this FOI request would not be in the public interest as this information is due to be released in the near future. Early release of unprocessed figures may undermine the future reports and provide Public with an incorrect statistics.
Section 22 - Balancing/Decision
There needs to be a real and valid reason which identifies a tangible benefit to the public from disclosure of information. As the information is intended to be published at a near future date, it is reasonable to exempt it as publication is imminent.