Racist crimes have risen in Scotland over the past year

New Scottish figures revealed that 5,124 racist incidents were recorded by police in 2005/06

This was an increase of 588 incidents from 2004/05, according to statistics published on Tuesday.

The majority of victims were of Pakistani origin and most incidents took place in the street, with many occurring on Friday or Saturday nights.

In 2005/06, the number of racist related crimes, which encompassed incidents such as writing racist graffiti during another crime such as housebreaking, was 6,439, up 12% from 5,732 in 2004/05 from 4,556 the year before.

Two specific crimes - racially aggravated harassment and racially aggravated conduct - accounted for over half of all racist related crimes.

Crimes committed against someone because of the colour of their skin or their country of origin are particularly sickening. Cathy Jamieson Justice minister

More than 20% of victims had suffered one or more previous racist incidents. About half of perpetrators each year are under 20, and 25% are under 16.

Officials said some of the figures may have been boosted by a new way of recording crime which came into force in April 2004.

Until then, no crime would have been recorded if a victim did not want police to actively pursue it.

The statisticians said the new system may have led to an increase in the number of crimes recorded with no real possibility of them being cleared up.

The Scottish Executive said the increase may have been due to several factors including increased public confidence with reporting procedures.

Challenging myths

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "All crimes are an affront to the values we hold dear, but crimes committed against someone because of the colour of their skin or their country of origin are particularly sickening.

"I know that the police and other criminal justice agencies are working hard to provide reassurance and advice to our ethnic minority communities."

But the news of the rise in incidents provoked a mixed reaction from various organisations.

A Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Scotland spokeswoman said: "We have always said that the number of actual racist incidents that occur in Scotland is much higher than the number of those reported, so we are not surprised to see these figures continue to rise.

"Scotland is an ethnically diverse society. We all need to play our part in preventing racist incidents, not only on our streets but in our schools and workplaces, and ensuring that our communities are united rather than divided."

Racial harassment

Dave Petrie MSP, Scottish Conservative communities spokesman, said it was possible that the reported rise was due to an improved reporting system.

He added: "But sadly there is still a minority of people out there who will not grow up and leave past attitudes behind."

Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, a group which campaigns against discrimination against asylum seekers, said: "Our experience working with our service users, asylum seekers, refugees and new migrants, and backed up by a Glasgow University research study into racism and Strathclyde Police, demonstrates that as much as 80% of racist incidents go unreported.