Justice Minister Naomi Long calls hate crime figures “alarming” amid surge in support referrals

Pictured during a visit to the Hate Crime Advocacy Service (HCAS) Justice Minister Naomi Long with Chloe Barton, Rainbow Project; Anna Pustelnik, HCAS manager; Janice Bunting, CEO Victim Support NI; Dawn McCartney, Disability Action; Jolena Flett, Head of Advocacy and Project and Lucy Fitzgerald, Policy and Communications Manager.

Referrals to Northern Ireland’s Hate Crime Advocacy Service (HCAS) have increased by more than a third in the past year, with Justice Minister Naomi Long describing the figures as “alarming” amid a rise in racially motivated attacks.

New figures show that the service received 1,369 referrals in 2024/25, up from 1,013 the previous year — a 35% increase. The rise has been driven largely by an increase in incidents linked to race, reflecting growing concern among community organisations about the impact of racism and hostility on individuals and families.

Despite the troubling nature of the figures, the Justice Minister said it was positive that more people are seeking help and support.

Speaking during a visit to the Hate Crime Advocacy Service, based at Victim Support NI, Ms Long said:

“In our society there must be a place for everyone – what there can be no place for is hate crime. As we look forward to 2026, I sincerely hope that we find ways to celebrate the positive benefits from our society becoming so much more diverse over recent years.”

She warned that recent events had laid bare the scale of prejudice still present in society, adding:

“Recent anti-migrant and racist attacks have exposed the extent of racism and hate that exists, underpinned by blind prejudice and negative attitudes, often driven by misunderstanding or worse, mis- and disinformation.

“As a society, we have to counter not only the violence, but the attitudes and the misinformation that creates fertile ground in which mistrust, prejudice and hatred can flourish.”

The Minister also stressed the importance of reporting incidents and seeking help, particularly for victims who may feel isolated or fearful.

“I want to emphasise the importance of reporting hate crime and speaking out against it. You can report incidents directly to the police, either by phone or online, or to experienced hate crime advocates at the Hate Crime Advocacy Service or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers. There is help and support and I would encourage people not to suffer alone,” she said.

The Hate Crime Advocacy Service is funded by the Department of Justice and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and is coordinated by Victim Support NI. It is delivered in partnership with Migrant Centre NI, Disability Action and The Rainbow Project, providing specialist support to victims from a wide range of communities.

During her visit, Ms Long met directly with hate crime advocates to hear about the realities faced by victims navigating the criminal justice system. She praised the service for offering practical and emotional support at times of acute distress.

“I want to take this opportunity to recognise the work of the Hate Crime Advocacy Service, which plays an important role in supporting victims of hate crime through the criminal justice process, offering a safe and confidential space and signposting to other services such as housing, health and psychological support,” she said.

“While my ambition is that our society will one day no longer require this service, for as long as we do, it is encouraging to know that victims of hate crime can seek and receive this vital support at such a distressing time.”

Chatting to advocates from the Hate Crime Advocacy Service  (HCAS) service, Justice Minister Naomi Long thanked them for their crucial work and support they provide to victims. HCAS has experienced a 35% increase in referrals in the last year largely driven by an increase in racially motivated attacks.

For those working on the frontline, the rise in referrals reflects both increasing need and growing awareness of the service. Anna Pustelnik, Hate Crime Project Manager at HCAS, said the organisation had seen sustained growth in demand since its establishment.

She said:

“Victim Support NI is grateful to the Minister for her recognition of the Hate Crime Advocacy Service’s achievements over the past four years. Since 2021, the consortium has worked hard to develop and deliver a victim-centred and needs-based approach to those who have experienced any form of hate incident or crime.”

Ms Pustelnik acknowledged the pressures created by rising demand, adding:

“We have seen an increase year on year of referrals to the service, and we continue to deliver a high-quality service despite significant increasing demands on our current resources.”

She also highlighted the profound human impact behind the statistics:

“We know, through our first-hand experience of working with victims of hate crime, of the devastating impact it has on the lives of victims. The need for change is never more prevalent as now.”

Looking ahead, she welcomed proposed legislative reforms aimed at strengthening protections for victims.

“As supporters of the recommendations set out by Judge Marrinan we welcome the upcoming legislation for victims of hate crime through the Sentencing Bill and the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill. We believe this will lead to a positive change for victims of hate crime in Northern Ireland,” she said.

Referrals to the Hate Crime Advocacy Service can be made in person, on behalf of someone else, or through the PSNI. While the service encourages reporting incidents to the police, individuals do not need to formally report a crime to access support.

Further information is available at: https://hcasni.com/