Sectarian incidents in Derry/Strabane spike by 23 per cent to 160 over past year
The number of sectarian incidents in Derry/Strabane have spiked by 23 per cent year-on-year.
New police figures show there were 160 sectarian incidents locally in the 12 months to the end of March 2026.
That’s up by 30 incidents (23%) from 130 in the April 2024 – March 2025 period.
There was also a rise in the number of sectarian crimes recorded in the city district – up by nine (9.7%) from 93 to 102 year-on-year.
Across the North there was an increase of 71 sectarian incidents. The number of crimes rose by 65.
The number of crimes in each district was as follows: Belfast (220), Derry & Strabane (102), Mid Ulster (68), Antrim & Newtownabbey (49), Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (39), Causeway Coast & Glens (36), Mid & East Antrim (36), Newry, Mourne & Down (32), Ards & North Down (26), Fermanagh & Omagh (26) and Lisburn & Castlereagh City (19).
While sectarian incidents and crimes increased last year they are at a lower level than twenty years ago.
“The number of sectarian incidents was at its highest level in 2009/10 with 1,840 incidents recorded. The highest number of sectarian crimes (1,469) was recorded in 2005/06.
"Since the start of the data series, the number of both sectarian incidents and crimes broadly declined, with incidents reaching its lowest level in 2018/19 and crimes in 2017/18.
"Levels increased each year up to 2022/23, fell in 2023/24 and 2024/25, before rising again in 2025/26. Despite this increase, 2025/26 recorded the sixth lowest level of sectarian incidents and the fifth lowest level of sectarian crimes since the data series began 2005/06,” the latest police bulletin advises.