August 28, 2025 | Incident and Crime Statistics , Hate Crime and Equality
Request Number: FOI/15339
Category: Incident and Crime Statistics - Hate Crime and Equality
Subject: Hate crimes again Jews in NI
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 some of the information to which your request relates and this is being provided to you.
We further consider some of the information you seek is exempt by virtue of Section 21 and Section 22 of FOIA and have detailed our rationale as to why this exemption applies.
We have also provided you with links to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) which we have followed in responding to your request.
Request
How many hate crime incidents against Jewish people in Northern Ireland have been recorded from October 1st 2023 to 30th July 2025?
Answer
Between 1st October 2023 and 31st March 2025 there were 27 recorded faith/religion hate crimes where the victim’s perceived targeted religion was Jewish. The victim of a hate crime will be recorded as the person to whom the hostility or prejudice is displayed, even if they do not have the personal characteristic targeted. In some cases the personal characteristic may be incorrectly perceived by the person displaying the hostility or prejudice.
Figures up to 30th June 2025 will be available after the publication of our next hate crime bulletin on 28th August 2025. Figures for July 2025 will be available following the publication of our hate crime bulletin in November.
The full data series from 2009/10 is available in Table 5.3 of the faith/religion spreadsheet which accompanies our annual Trends in Hate Incidents and Crimes bulletin, which is published on the PSNI website: https://www.psni.police.uk/about-us/our-publications-and-reports/official-statistics/hate-motivation-statistics
The exemption/s, as well as the factors the Department considered when deciding where the public interest lies, are listed below:
Section 21 - Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
(1) – Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.
Section 22 – Information Intended for Future Publication
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) 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.
Section 22 is a qualified exemption so therefore the PSNI is obliged to carry out a Public Interest Test.
Public Interest Considerations – Section 22
Factors favouring disclosure
Disclosure would demonstrate PSNI’s openness and transparency.
Factors favouring non-disclosure
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.
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 future date, this year, it is reasonable to exempt it as publication is imminent.
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.