RACIALLY and religiously motivated hate crime has fallen in Glasgow.

The latest report shows however that recorded incidents of hate crime based on sexual orientation has increased as has disability hate crime.

The Government however, believes that the official figures do not reflect the true nature of hate crime and encourage more people to report incidents to the police.

The number of racially aggravated crimes in the last year remained static at 930 which is the lowest since 2010/11 and a drop from 972 two years ago and from the highest of 1296 in 2011/12.

Religiously aggravated crime also fell to the second lowest in the last eight years.

There were 188 crimes recorded last year down form 208 the previous year and from the highest of 370 in 2010/11.

Glasgow accounts for almost one third of all religiously aggravated crime in Scotland.

Across Scotland there were 642 religiously aggravated charges reported in 2017-18.

While race and religion saw a decline hate crime based on sexuality has, while showing a drop last year, been on the rise.

Last year there were 270 cases down significantly from 345 the year before.

However, the pattern over the last eight years has been of an increase from 186 and 259 in the first two years of recording.

Disability related hate crime has also increased to the highest recorded with 55 crimes reported last year up from 31 the year before.

Even though it is falling race hate is the highest of the seven categories recorded, both in Glasgow and across Scotland where there were 3249 racially aggravated crimes reported, the lowest since 2003/4.

The Scottish Government said the increases were a welcome sign more people were willing to report attacks.

Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing said: “It’s reassuring to see more people are coming forward to report hate crime, and in particular disability hate crime.

“A significant amount of work has been done by Police Scotland, the Crown Office and community organisations over the past year to ensure this is happening.

“But I still believe this isn’t the full picture and remain concerned that crime motivated by prejudice is underreported and would urge anyone who experiences it to ensure it’s reported properly.”