HATE crimes have hit “devastating” record levels in England and Wales, according to damning new statistics released today.

The number of hate crimes recorded by police have risen over the last year to a staggering 155,841 — a 26 per cent increase.

It is the biggest annual rise since 2017, according to Home Office data.

Race hate crimes made up the vast majority of such offences as they soared by 19 per cent to a record 109,843. It is the first time the numbers have risen above 100,000.

The police also recorded 8,730 religious hate crimes, 26,152 sexual orientation hate crimes, 14,242 disability hate crimes and 4,355 transgender hate crimes.

BARAC UK co-founder Zita Holbourne said: “It is devastating to hear that hate crimes are on the increase.

“We live in a society where racist policies and laws, the impacts of austerity, the scapegoating of black and brown people and demonisation of black and brown refugees and migrants embolden those who hold racist views to express and act upon them.”

Weyman Bennett, co-convener of Stand Up to Racism, said: “The Tories constant attempts to blame black communities for the economic crisis increases racist attacks. “

Veteran anti-racist campaigner Glenroy Watson told the Morning Star: “These figures do not include the crimes being committed by the state.”

Jabeer Butt, of the Race Equality Foundation, said: “Alarm bells should be ringing for anyone looking at these figures.

“The rise in all kinds of hate crime, with racially motivated hate crime being the highest, speaks volumes about attitudes towards minoritised people in England and Wales.”

Religious hate crimes rose by 37 per cent to reach the highest level since records began in 2012.

Sexual orientation hate crimes increased by 41 per cent, disability hate crimes by 43 per cent, and transgender identity hate crimes saw the biggest percentage increase by 56 per cent.

Leni Morris, from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender anti-abuse charity Galop, said: “Demand for our hate-crime support services, including the National LGBT+ Hate Crime Helpline, has grown by 19 per cent in just the last six months."

The report said: “It is uncertain to what degree the increase in police-recorded hate crime is a genuine rise or due to continued recording improvements and more victims having the confidence to report these crimes to the police.”

As hate crimes soar, two charities claim that only one per cent of those carried out against people with disabilities resulted in a charge or court summons in the year up to March 2022.

Charities Leonard Cheshire and United Response say in a new report that 11,224 offences were reported to police in England and Wales in 2021/22, with 5,910 involving an element of violence but only 129 resulted in a charge or summons.

This was down on the 174 in the previous year.

In a joint statement, the two charities said: “Record levels of reports coupled with a distinct lack of justice paint a worrying picture that these crimes are not being taken seriously enough.

“The prevalence of disability hate crime is unacceptable, and every report has a real person and real story behind it.”

A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesman said: “We are already working closely with our criminal justice partners to understand the reasons behind a reduction in the percentage of crimes that go to court.”