FEWER racist incidents have been reported to the police for the fourth year in a row.
Police recorded 4907 racist incidents in 2010-11, down from the 4960 reports logged the previous year and 8% lower than 2006-07, according to the latest Scottish Government data.
But more up-to-date Crown Office prosecution statistics, published last month, show more charges for racism and other forms of hatred were reported to the procurator-fiscal in 2011-12.
The number of charges linked to racist crimes increased by 8% from 4178 to 4518, a six-year high.
Community Safety Minister Roseanna Cunningham welcomed the decline but warned there were still too many hate crimes taking place across the country.
"Hatred of any kind has no place in modern Scotland and we need to do everything we can to stop it," Ms Cunningham said.
"Along with tough enforcement through record numbers of police officers on our streets, community engagement and education is driving home the message that there is no place for racism of any kind in Scotland.
"We cannot be complacent, particularly as we saw new prosecution figures being published last month which show an increase in racist charges this year."
Racist incidents most commonly occurred on Friday and Saturday nights and one-third of them took place in the street.
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