RED Network

In 2010, just less than 5,140 reports to the police were assessed as hate crimes. As the definition of what constitutes a hate crime changed in 2008, the number of hate crimes is comparable to 2008 and 2009, but not the years before that.The single most common type of crime (principal offence) in reports of hate crime in 2010 was unlawful threats and molestation (2,020 reports), followed by violent crime (around 960 reports) and defamation (slightly less than 950 reports). The number of reports including agitation against ethnic or national group was just more than 500, and the number of re- ports including unlawful discrimination was 150. 

In 2010, slightly less than 3,790 hate crimes motivated by xenophobia/racism were reported, which is approximately 330 less reported incidents than the previous year.Unlawful threats/molestation is the most common xenophobic/racist hate crime (40 per cent). The proportion of perpetrators that were customers, clients or service personnel was higher for crimes motivated by xeno- phobia/racism that it was for other motives.

In 2010, 818 reports were assessed to contain a primary offence with Afrophobic motive, which represents an increase by 38 incidents since 2009. Unlawful threats and molestation represent 33 per cent of all Afro- phobic hate crimes reported, which makes this the most common crime category. Violent crime (25 per cent) and defamation (22 per cent) are the next most common types of crime. The smallest crime category for this motive is unlawful discrimination (3 per cent).

In 2010, 145 reports were identified as having a primary offence with an anti-Roma motive, which represents a reduction by 18 incidents since 2009. Unlawful threats and molestation represent 34 per cent of all anti- Roma hate crimes reported, which makes this the most common crime category. Defamation (21 per cent), unlawful discrimination and violent crime (14 per cent respectively) are the next most common types of crime. Agitation against national or ethnic group is less common (10 per cent).

In 2010, just more than 550 reports with an antireligious mo- tive were identified, which is slightly fewer compared to 2009. Islamophobic hate crimes have increased, whilst anti-Semitic and other antireligious hate crimes have declined.

Of all reported antireligious hate crimes, 49 per cent were assessed to be Islamophobic, 29 per cent anti-Semitic and 22 per cent other antireligious hate crimes. Agitation against ethnic or national group is more common in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crimes, while criminal damage/graffiti is more common in other antireligious hate crimes compared with other hate crimes. In total, 50 per cent of the antireligious hate crimes were cleared up. 6 per cent were personally cleared up and the remainder technically cleared up.

In 2010, 770 hate crimes because of sexual orientation were identified. Of these, about 750 had a homophobic motive. Compared to 2009, hate crimes because of sexual orientation has decreased by 290 reports. Slightly less than every fourth homophobic, biphobic or heterophobic hate crime is a violent crime.

In 2010, 31 reports were identified as having a transphobic motive as their primary offence, which is at the same level as previous year. The number of offence reports with a transphobic motive increased by a total of sixteen between 2008 and 2009 however. As the number of reports with a transphobic motive is low, it is important to consider this when interpreting the results. 

Source: The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå), http://www.bra.se/extra/measurepoint/?module_instance=4&name=Summary_Hate_crimes_2009.pdf&url=/dynamaster/file_archive/110513/79d18399ee4ee888fcb7c8e006ca8429/Summary%255fHate%255fcrimes%255f2009.pdf

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