Hate crime numbers fall in Liverpool but violence against trans people continues to rise

Merseyside Police received 1,031 reports of homophobic hate crimes this year

The total number of LGBTQ+ hate crimes reported in Merseyside has fallen for the third year in a row, with a total of 1,185 reports being made in the region this year. In Liverpool specifically, 560 hate crimes were reported in 2024.

Reported hate crimes against transgender people in the city have fallen for the first time in four years, while reported hate crimes based on sexuality have also dropped following a slight rise in last year's numbers. But violent attacks on transgender people have risen region-wide, from 29 in 2023 to 35 this year.

Merseyside Police received 1,031 reports of homophobic hate crimes this year, with 504 of these happening in Liverpool. The vast majority of these were public order offences, accounting for 664 reports in Merseyside (64.4%) and 337 in Liverpool (66.8%). Stalking and harassment also ranked relatively high, with 172 in Merseyside (16.6%) and 62 in Liverpool (12.3%). Other reported crimes included burglary, criminal damage, sexual offences, theft, possession of weapons, and robbery.

Overall, the force received fewer reports of homophobic hate crimes this year compared to 2023, when they received 1,252 reports region-wide, and 608 from Liverpool specifically. While Liverpool numbers have fluctuated - rising and falling between 2019 and 2024 - Merseyside as a whole has seen a gradual decline since 2021, when numbers suddenly spiked from 842 the previous year to 1,294.

The number of violent homophobic crimes in Merseyside also saw a marked decrease this year, from 208 reported in 2023 to 162. In Liverpool, this fell from 125 to 83. Of these, 48 were reported to have resulted in the victim being injured, compared to 83 last year.

But violence against transgender people in the region has risen from 29 attacks in 2023 to 35 this year, with 18 of these resulting in victim injury. 37 violent anti-trans attacks were reported in Merseyside in 2022, and 33 in 2021.

The total number of transphobic hate crimes reported this year stands at 154 - slightly higher than last year's 152. However, anti-trans reports in Liverpool have fallen for the first time in four years, bucking an alarming trend which saw the number of hate crimes soar from 43 in 2020 to 77 in 2023. Violent hate crimes against trans people have also fallen in the city, from 17 last year to 15 this year.

Detective Superintendent and Hate Crime Lead for the force, Joe Marston, said: “It’s pleasing to see that the overall total number of LGBTQ+ hate crimes reported in Merseyside has fallen for the third year in a row. It’s also encouraging to see that reported hate crimes against transgender people have fallen for the first time in four years, while reported hate crimes based on sexuality have also dropped.

“Despite the reduction in these reports, we remain as determined as ever to drive down these numbers even further.

“It’s worth remembering that behind every one of these statistics is a real person who has been subjected to a serious crime and we have a specialist team of officers who are trained to support them. It’s also important to recognise how some of these figures have risen, such as violence against transgender people.

“As a police force, it is vitally important for us to know where we have issues with hate crimes and how many are being committed. Only then can we do something about it, and we have improved and increased the recording of crimes with a hate element, which in years gone by may have simply been recorded as incidents such as assault or threatening behaviour.

“Hate crime has also historically been underreported, so the fact we have seen increases in reporting of hate crime offences in Merseyside in recent years is in many ways very encouraging. We believe this increase is largely down to the increased confidence of victims to come forward to police. There is also greater awareness of the issue, particularly with regard to hate crimes perpetrated against transgender people.

“We welcome the fact that more people are seeing hate crime in all its forms for what it is – a criminal offence that people should face justice for, and are telling us about it."

Despite this, the charge rate on all reported hate crimes remains low: for the second year in a row, not a single person has been charged in connection with any reported attacks on trans people in Merseyside. For homophobic hate crimes, 97 people were charged this year (9%), falling from 163 (13%) in 2023.

Last year, information provided to the ECHO by Merseyside police revealed reports of 725 violent and non-violent LGBTQ+ hate crimes in Liverpool. Of these, 46 (6.3%) resulted in a suspect being charged with a related or alternative offence. None of the perpetrators in cases of transgender hate crimes were charged, with two suspects instead being given a summons.

Detective Marston said: “Our officers regularly speak to victims of hate crime and know first-hand the impact this type of crime has. We proactively engage with those communities in Merseyside who may have been subject to hate crime to identify and reassure anyone who may have been a victim, and I would urge anyone else out there who may have been a victim to get in contact so we can take action. You will be supported every step of the way as sensitively as possible by officers who will take your reports seriously and do everything in their power to bring perpetrators to justice.

“We have hate crime co-ordinators who deal with this type of crime day in and day out, so can draw on a wealth of experience and expertise to provide effective and above all sensitive and appropriate support for victims.

"They also play an important role in educating people on the impact of hate crime, going into schools and speaking to young people, and talking to perpetrators in order to prevent further offending.

“I would like to urge anyone out there who may have been a victim of hate crime to get in contact so we can take action. I would also like to remind people we have a number of third-party reporting centres across Merseyside. These include fire stations, citizen advice bureaus and hospitals, which enable people who feel more comfortable discussing their issues with an independent party to come forward. Support networks such as the Anthony Walker Foundation also provide emotional support, practical assistance and information to anyone requesting help.

"If someone doesn’t want to speak to the police, they can get support from the charity Stop Hate UK and they will act as a liaison if required. They can be contacted by calling 0800 138 1625."

LGBTQ+ hate crimes reported in Merseyside and Liverpool, 2020 to 2024