Religious hate crime has risen by more than a third across the Thames Valley region in the last year, newly published figures show.
Crime summary data released by Thames Valley Police shows there were 409 recorded religious hate crime offences between July 2025 and June 2026, compared with 300 during the previous 12-month period - a rise of 36.3 per cent.
The figures come amid heightened tensions affecting faith communities both locally and nationally, with a number of high-profile incidents attracting attention across the region.
Among them was an incident at Oxford's Central Mosque on Manzil Way in August 2025, when a man allegedly climbed over a fence, left pork on door handles and draped an Israeli flag over the entrance.
Tommy Robinson's 'far right' controversial Oxford Union's debate on whether the West is "right to be suspicious of Islam" also sparked protests and counter-protests in the city this year, requiring a significant policing operation.
Additionally, the widespread flying of Union and St George's Cross flags as part of the online campaign Operation Raise The Colours, has also been criticised for far-right activity and accused of fuelling racial tensions.
This prompted Oxfordshire County Council securing a High Court injunction preventing unknown individuals from attaching flags to lampposts across the county this week.
Responding to the latest figures, Thames Valley Police said the rise may partly reflect greater confidence among victims and witnesses in reporting offences.
A force spokesperson said: "We recognise that the number of religiously motivated hate crime offences recorded across the Thames Valley has increased over the last year.
"A rise in reporting can reflect a number of factors, including greater awareness of what constitutes a hate crime and increased confidence among victims and witnesses in coming forward.
"Hate crime of any kind has no place in our communities, and we understand the significant impact these offences can have on victims, their families and wider communities."
The force said it continues to work closely with local authorities, faith groups and other partners to understand concerns, support victims and prevent hate crime.
The spokesperson added: "We would encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses a hate crime to report it to police so that we can investigate and ensure appropriate support is available."
The figures have been published against a backdrop of wider national concern around community tensions, hate crime and extremism.
This comes as the UK's national terrorism threat level rose to 'severe' in April following an attack to two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, with the MI5 security service noting the increase was "driven by a rise in both Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups in the UK".
As part of the Government's aim at strengthening the response to antisemitism it has invested £250m for police forces across England and Wales.
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