Tag: hate crime

New guidance for Scotland’s police officers responding to hate

Police Scotland has published new guidance for officers responding to hate.

A new standard operating procedure and policy document supercedes interim guidance issued in May and closely aligns with College of Policing guidance.

The new guidance continues to outline a reasonable person and policing purpose test for the recording of Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHIs) and emphasises that the details of the other party of a report will not be routinely recorded as part of an NCHI.

It also makes clear Police Scotland’s approach to behaviour motivated by hate is rooted in the principles of integrity, fairness and respect, commitment to upholding human rights.

Both the SOP and policy document were widely consulted on with key stakeholders whose feedback was assessed and used to make amendments to the final products.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation, and officers balance the protections people have under human rights legislation against other laws every day, using their discretion and good sense.

“To support implementation of the new hate crime legislation, Police Scotland developed and delivered a programme of training to support our officers, including an e-learning module which has been completed by more than 91% of officers, as well as a series of in-person and online workshops.

“We’ve trained a cadre of around 80 hate crime advisors and 450 hate crime champions to support colleagues while Contact, Command and Control (C3), officers and staff also received tailored training.

“This guidance provides additional clarity, direction, and consistency to our response to reports of hate, including hate crime and non-crime hate incidents and aligns closely with the College of Policing guidance.”

More than 7000 hate crimes reported in first week of Scotland’s new law

POLICE have issued data relating to the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

Data shows there were 7152 online hate reports received 1 April to 7 April.

During this period 240 hate crimes and 30 non-crime hate incidents were recorded.

View the data: https://orlo.uk/pXe8n

hate-crime-and-incidents-report-week-1-002Download

New Hate Crime laws come into force

Greater protection for victims and communities?

New measures to tackle the harm caused by hatred and prejudice come into force today (1 April 2024). The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act will ‘provide greater protection for victims and communities’.

It introduces new offences for threatening or abusive behaviour which is intended to stir up hatred based on prejudice towards characteristics including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics. These extra provisions will add to the long-standing stirring up racial hatred offences, which have been in place UK-wide since 1986.

The new laws were developed following Lord Bracadale’s Independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation which concluded that new specific offences relating to stirring up hatred were needed. The legislation, which was passed by a majority of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament in 2021, was also subject to extensive consultation and engagement throughout, including with communities affected by hate crime.

Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “Nobody in our society should live in fear and we are committed to building safer communities that live free from hatred and prejudice.

“We know that the impact on those on the receiving end of physical, verbal or online attacks can be traumatic and life-changing. This legislation is an essential element of our wider approach to tackling that harm.

“Protections for freedom of expression are built into the legislation passed by Parliament and these new offences have a higher threshold for criminality than the long-standing offence of stirring up racial hatred, which has been in place since 1986.”

The Scottish Conservatives oppose the legislation: “Unfortunately, this is not an April Fool. Today, Humza Yousaf’s dangerous Hate Crime Act has come into force. This SNP law will have a chilling effect on free speech.

“We were the only party to oppose it every step of the way.”

The Scottish Government’s Hate Crime Strategy and Delivery Plan sets out Ministers’ strategic priorities for tackling hate crime in Scotland.

Hate Hurts: Tackling hate crime

Greater protections for victims and communities coming into force

New laws to tackle the harm caused by hatred and prejudice come into force next month. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act will provide greater protection for victims and communities from 1 April.

It creates new stirring up of hatred offences for protected characteristics including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and transgender identity. These extra provisions will add to the long-standing stirring up racial hatred offences, which have been in place since 1986.

Recent statistics show that 5,738 charges of hate crime were reported in Scotland in 2022-23. However, we know not all crimes will be reported.

A new Scottish Government public awareness raising campaign supported by Police Scotland has been launched today. The Hate Hurts campaign shows the impact of hate crime and encourages those who have witnessed or experienced a hate crime to come forward.

Minister for Victims & Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “For those impacted by hatred and prejudice, the results can be traumatic and life changing. While we respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression, nobody in our society should live in fear or be made to feel like they don’t belong, and the Scottish Government is committed to building safer communities that live free from hatred and prejudice.

“Hate crime is behaviour that is both criminal and rooted in prejudice. It can be verbal, physical, online or face-to-face. The new law will give greater protections to those who need it and helps to form the basis of understanding about the type of behaviour that is not acceptable in our society.

“We must do all we can to give victims and witnesses the confidence to report instances of hate crime, which is why we have launched a new campaign, ‘Hate Hurts’. The campaign is informed by lived experience, and explains what a hate crime is, the impact it has on victims and how to report it.”

Changing Faces Campaigner, Atholl said: “I was born with a condition called Cystic Hygroma which causes cysts to form where you have lymph nodes and I’ve experienced quite a lot of online trolling. In the darker periods I’ve had people threaten to kill me just because of the way I look.

“There are times when I have cried about what people have said about me. Words can hurt and can have a detrimental effect on how someone feels about themselves, and my best advice is to report it.”

Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain, hate crime prevention lead, Police Scotland, said: “Hate crime is vile and wrong.

“To target a person, a group or a community because of who they are, how they look, or how they choose to live their lives, undermines freedoms and rights we are entitled to enjoy as human beings.

“We know it can be hard for people to report a hate crime, and in some cases to even recognise or acknowledge that they have been a victim.

“We want everyone targeted by hate crime, or those who witness it, to have confidence to come forward. They can be assured they will be treated with dignity and respect and that the circumstances they report will be fully investigated.”

The Hate Hurts campaign runs 11-31 March across Scottish Government social media channels, video on demand and outdoor billboards.

Antisemitic hate crimes hit new high

SCOTTISH FIGURE DOUBLES IN TWELVE MONTHS

Today Community Security Trust (CST) publishes the Antisemitic Incidents Report 2023, which shows that last year CST recorded 4,103 anti-Jewish hate incidents across the UK, by far the largest-ever total recorded in this country.

This is an increase of 147% from the 1,662 incidents recorded in 2022 and is 81% higher than the previous record total of 2,261 incidents in 2021.

68 antisemetic incidents were reported in Scotland in 2023 – DOUBLE the count for 2022.

CST says it is almost entirely due to the massive surge of antisemitism following the 7 October Hamas terror attack on Israel.

For an extended breakdown, visit cst.org.uk/blog

Antisemitic_Incidents_Report_2023Download

Leaders reaffirm inter-faith solidarity in Scotland

Senior Jewish and Muslim faith leaders issue joint statement with FM  

First Minister Humza Yousaf has joined faith leaders in Scotland to express a steadfast commitment against all forms of hate crime, bigotry and xenophobia.

In a joint statement, the First Minister and senior religious representatives of Scotland’s Jewish and Muslim communities have pledged to continue working together to foster community cohesion and goodwill across Scotland.

A copy of the joint statement from the First Minister and faith leaders is below:


We express today our mutual respect and understanding, recognising our common humanity, and with love and compassion, knowing that our hearts are full of pain. We also acknowledge the suffering caused to innocent life as a result of recent events and wholeheartedly pray for the full recovery of the many injured and for those who have lost loved ones. 

In times of crisis, it is important for our faith communities, and all communities in Scotland, to reaffirm our relationships and maintain our continuing dialogue. We are steadfast in our commitment against all forms of hate crime, bigotry and xenophobia and we are proud of the strong inter-faith tradition in Scotland.

We stand together in solidarity to reassure our communities of that continuing commitment. We will continue to work together to foster community cohesion and goodwill across Scotland, so that everyone can live in safety. We are proud of our close and strong working relationships, built up over many years, and which allows us the ability to work with confidence and trust.

Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland

Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Senior Rabbi of Scotland 

Chief Imam Dr. Sayed Razawi

Shaykh Hassan Rabbani, Chair of the Scottish Muslim Forum

Rabbi Eliran Shabo, Jewish Chaplain of Scotland Universities 

And a statement from the UK Inter Faith Network:

Police Scotland: Don’t Feed Hate

Don’t Feed Hate is Police Scotland’s latest hate crime campaign which targets young men aged 18 to 30, who are identified as one of the groups most at risk of committing hate crime.

We are asking them to pause, reflect, and find other outlets for their frustrations, building an understanding of the causes of hate and the lasting impact it can have.

Watch more on the campaign here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU-68SWN4Qc

Letters: New UK-wide helpline and website for victims of hate

Dear Editor

The outbreak of Covid-19 saw a dramatic increase and intensification in racist incidents directed towards East and Southeast Asian communities in the UK. Until now, there hasn’t been a dedicated, culturally competent service to support them following such incidents and to accurately record the scale of the problem.

But now that will change, with the launch of On Your Side, a helpline and website offering specialist advisors and new reporting options to anyone from East or Southeast Asian communities who has experienced racism or any form of hate because of an aspect of their identity or perceived identity.

Set up by a coalition of 15 national and community-based groups with expertise in hate crime prevention and supporting East and Southeast Asian communities, it offers a nationwide 24/7 telephone helpline and website providing advice and support from trained staff.

We know there are many barriers stopping people from reporting, but we are offering a safe, trauma-informed service which they can access to talk and seek support. We can listen, advise and help.

Furthermore, it will help build a more accurate understanding of the levels of racism and other forms of hate faced by East and Southeast Asian communities in the UK, giving policy makers, civil society and community groups insights to shape better prevention and justice approaches.

Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and supported.

The service goes live on 9 August 2022 and can be accessed at www.onyoursideuk.org or by calling free on 0808 801 0393.

Your sincerely,

Andrea Martinez, Director, Kanlungan Filipino Consortium

Andy Fearn, Co-Executive Director, Protection Approaches

Anna Yim, Chief Executive, Chinese Community Centre Birmingham 

Hau-Yu Tam, Head of Campaigns, End Violence and Racism Against ESEA Communities

Jabez Lam, Centre Manager, Hackney Chinese Community Services

Kimi Jolly, Executive Director, East and Southeast Asian Scotland

Mariko Hayashi, Executive Director, Southeast and East Asian Centre

Nathan Law Kwun Chung, Chair, Hong Kong Umbrella Community

Quynh Nguyen, Chief Executive, Vietnamese Family Partnership

Rosa Hui, Chief Executive Officer, Chinese Community Wellbeing Society

Rose Simkins, Chief Executive, Stop Hate UK

Shirley Au-Yeung, Chief Executive, Chinese in Wales Association

Simon Cheng, Chair, Hongkongers in Britain

Circle Steele, Chief Executive Officer, Wai Yin Society

No place for Islamophobia

Yesterday I attended the Muslim Council of Scotland’s rally outside the Scottish Parliament, to call for an end to Islamophobia (writes FOYSUL CHOUDHURY MSP). 

While freedom of expression must be protected, this should not be exercised in a way that incites hatred or acts of violence against others. It is unacceptable that anybody should be a victim of discrimination, prejudice or abuse based upon a protected characteristic. 

I felt it important to attend the rally to firmly show that I believe we should actively oppose, and try to prevent, this kind of hate crime. Minority communities should be confident about reporting incidents of hate and abuse to the authorities and be assured of the support they deserve. 

I believe that this starts with authorities and communities openly acknowledging the existence of hate crime and being dedicated to prevent and punish such crimes. 

I hope to continue raising awareness of this important issue in Parliament throughout my time in office and I encourage the Scottish Government to bring forward its new hate crimes strategy as a matter of urgency. 

The Scottish Government also needs to speak out against injustices that we witness against minority communities around the world. Similarly, acknowledgement of the lived experiences of minority communities and the effects of hate upon them should be taught and prioritised within the school curriculum and institutions such as Police Scotland. 

I hope that diverse communities can come together to call out hate speech and hate crimes against their fellow citizens, supporting one another so that our ever-interconnected world can flourish through respect, tolerance and togetherness. 

If you witness a hate crime, whether in-person or online, please report this to Police Scotland or a third-party reporting centre.

Stand against hate, both in Scotland and around the world.