Hate Crime

The Law Commission of England and Wales has announced recommendations to reform hate crime legislation to ensure that disabled and LGBT+ victims receive the same protections as victims with other protected characteristics. The commission is also making a number of recommendations to protect women an

The total number of charges reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) containing at least one element of hate crime rose to 5,525 in 2020-21, four per cent more than 2019-20, new figures show. A report entitled Hate Crime in Scotland 2020-21 published today brings together f

A £500,000 fund will help places of worship to take security measures against hate crime. Faith communities can apply for grants from the Hate Crime Security Fund, developed by the Scottish government in partnership with Police Scotland.

Critics have warned that the hate crime legislation passed yesterday at Holyrood will result in vexatious and malicious complaints. MSPs passed the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill by 82 votes to 32.

A new report into the extent of hate crimes committed in Scotland has highlighted that almost two-thirds of all race-related hate offences had a visible minority ethnic (non-white) victim, a group that makes up around four per cent of the population. The study, which looked at the characteristics of

A new film raises concerns over the Scottish government's Hate Crime Bill. In Humza's Bummer, author Ian Mitchell takes a look at the professional background of Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and his qualifications for undertaking major law reform as well as the way the bill reflects Soviet att

A series of recommendations to the Hate Crime Bill made by Holyrood's Justice Committee have been accepted by the Scottish government ahead of its stage 1 debate. These include:

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has said it will support the general principles of the Hate Crime Bill on the condition it is amended in line with recommendations the committee is unanimously making.  These recommendations go further than the commitments already made by the Ju

Legal experts have highlighted their concerns with the Scottish government’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. Senior representatives of the Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, as well as Police Scotla

A climbdown by the Scottish government on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill has been confirmed by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf. The 'stirring up' offence in the bill has now been limited to situations where 'intent' is present. The bill previously stated that an offence would al

The Law Commission in England and Wales has proposed making sex or gender a protected characteristic. This would be added to the currently protected characteristics of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity. The proposals are outlined in a consultation

The Justice Secretary has contacted senior lawyers as he prepares to ditch sections of the Scottish government's controversial hate crime proposals. Humza Yousaf is planning to remove sections of the bill to secure opposition support at Holyrood for the bill.

The cost of implementing the Scottish government's hate crime proposals have been vastly underestimated, according to the body representing the police rank and file. The Scottish Police Federation told Holyrood's Finance and Constitution Committee that the costs set out by the Scottish government we

Scottish Labour has called on the Scottish government to update disaggregated hate crime data as the current figures are seven years out of date. Disaggregated data on racially-motivated hate crime has not been published since 2013-14 and Scottish Labour is calling for updated figures to be released

A letter published today includes support from over 20 individuals and organisations highlighting their “concerns” over the impact on free expression of the widely derided Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill. The letter co-ordinated by Humanist Society Scotland has support f