Police are appealing for witnesses following a hate crime on board a bus travelling in the Leith area. The incident happened between 5.40pm and 6.20pm on Monday (11th February) on board the Number 22 Lothian Bus service from Ocean Terminal to The Gyle. Continue reading Hate crime on Edinburgh bus: police seek woman
Legislative option to form part of forthcoming public consultation
Ministers will consult on how the criminal law might be strengthened as part of efforts to tackle misogynistic behaviour, Cabinet Secretary for Justice Humza Yousaf has announced.
Mr Yousaf said a forthcoming consultation focusing on updating and consolidating Scotland’s hate crime laws will include consideration as to what measures may be needed to better tackle gender-based violence, including misogyny.
Mr Yousaf (above) said: “The Scottish Government is working with a range of partners – through education, legislation and enforcement – to tackle violence against women and girls, including challenging unacceptable attitudes and harmful behaviour.
“We must guard against a pervasive misogyny which, unchecked, impacts on the wider health, wellbeing and safety of our communities – breeding a culture where this type of harm is tolerated – sometimes even condoned – and as a result is allowed to continue.
“So there is a clear need for continued action to be taken to tackle gender-based prejudice and misogyny in Scotland, although there are different views on the specific actions needed.
“We will be consulting later this year on Lord Bracadale’s recommendations for necessary reform to Scotland’s hate crime legislation. We will keep an open mind on the best way to address behaviour motivated by misogyny, including the possibility of new criminal law measures.
“The consultation will be launched in November and will seek views on a number of options, including an aggravation based on gender hostility as proposed by Lord Bracadale. But we will also ask whether, separately, a specific offence targeting misogynistic behaviour could be an effective step in addressing this form of behaviour and the damage it does.”
Lord Bracadale was appointed by the Scottish Government to review hate crime legislation in Scotland and to consider whether existing laws represent the most effective approach for the justice system to deal with criminal conduct motivated by hatred, malice, ill-will or prejudice. On 31 May Lord Bracadale published his review report and recommendations which included consolidation of hate crime legislation and the addition of gender and age hostility aggravations.
Current hate crime legislation allows any existing offence to be aggravated by prejudice in respect of one or more of the protected characteristics of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity. Where a person is convicted of an offence with a statutory aggravation in respect of a protected characteristic it will be recorded and taken into account in sentencing. In addition, there are some stand-alone offences too.
A number of organisations have called for the development of a standalone offence for misogyny to tackle the unique features of violence and harassment against women. They take the view that adding a statutory aggregation for gender hostility will not be helpful in tackling misogynistic behaviour.
The Scottish Government has accepted Lord Bracadale’s recommendation to consolidate all Scottish hate crime legislation into one new hate crime statute and will use his report and recommendations as the basis for consulting on the detail of what should be included in a new hate crime bill. This will include considering how best to tackle misogyny in Scotland.
The United Nations has defined violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
Read further information about Scottish Government work with partners to tackle violence against women and girls.
Police are appealing for witnesses following a racially-motivated serious assault in Davidsons Mains. The incident happened at around 11.30pm last Saturday (21st July). Continue reading Race hate assault in Davidsons Mains
A man who stabbed another man repeatedly following an argument about noise in an Edinburgh hostel has admitted attempted murder. He will be sentenced on 17 August. Continue reading Man convicted of hostel attempted murder
Victims and witnesses to hate crime are being encouraged to continue to speak out, as new statistics suggest more people are reporting incidents. Community Safety Minister Annabel Ewing has urged those affected by incidents of hate crime to report them to the police, ensuring perpetrators can be properly dealt with. Continue reading Victims urged to speak out on hate crimes
YouthLink Scotland has launched ‘Action on Prejudice’, the first national portal in the UK to tackle hate crime and prejudice in communities. Continue reading Action on Prejudice: new hate crime portal launched
Police Scotland has launched a new campaign on #HateCrime. Continue reading #GreaterThanAHater: Police launch new initiative to tackle hate crime
Campaign launched to increase understanding and reporting of hate crime
The Scottish Government has joined with Police Scotland and the Crown Office (COPFS) to launch a new campaign against hate crime.
‘Hate has no home in Scotland’ launched during Hate Crime Awareness Week and will run until 26 November. It aims to increase public understanding of what hate crime is, and how to report it – for those who personally experience it and, importantly, bystanders to hate crimes.
More than 5,300 cases of hate crime were reported in Scotland over the past year, with many other incidents going unreported. The campaign has been developed in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders involved in dealing with hate crime and its consequences as a response.
Launching the campaign, Equalities Secretary Angela Constance (above) said: “We all need to play our part to eradicate hate crime, which has no place in Scotland. ‘Hate has no home’ encourages and empowers people to recognise hate crime and report it, stopping this discrimination at its source. That is particularly important when people are bystanders – no one should be a passive witness when one of our fellow citizens is attacked because of who they are.
“We are committed to working with stakeholders, including Police Scotland and the COPFS, to tackle this blight. Ensuring we all take a stand and report hate crime is an important part of creating a fairer country for all. I look forward to seeing the country come together to support the campaign and take a stand against such hate.”
Chief Superintendent John McKenzie, Police Scotland, Safer Communities, said: “People of all races, religions, ethnicities, of any sexual orientation or with any disability should be able to live their lives free from hate or harassment. There is no place for hate in Scotland and it is our communities, who will lead the way in tackling hate crime with the support of police, the Government and other partners.
“Hate crime is under reported, we want to change that and we are asking people not to be bystanders. Speak out, help us tackle hate crime. By working together we can drive prejudice out of our communities and out of Scotland.”
Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC said: “Crime motivated by hatred is not only a wrong against the individual, but is an affront to our collective values as a community, creating division and fear. That is why we treat it so seriously and why we will continue to do so.
“The prosecution service, along with our colleagues in Police Scotland and other agencies, plays an essential role in creating an environment in which all people who live in Scotland, regardless of their personal or social circumstances, can have confidence that they live in a just society and that they will be protected from crime.”
More information on the campaign can be found here.
The first pledge in Scotland to end hate crime on public transport has been launched by the City of Edinburgh Council and transport partners. The ‘Charter for Public Transport’ aims to provide ‘hate free’ travel and partners Edinburgh Trams, ScotRail, Police Scotland, British Transport Police and First Scotland East came together in Haymarket station to make their pledge. Continue reading Capital driving out hate crime on public transport
‘No place here for intolerance, discrimination or violence’ – Communites Secretary Angela Constance
A series of practical measures have been set out to tackle and prevent hate crime in Scotland, focused on tackling prejudice and building stronger communities.
Responding to the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime which reported in September, Communities and Equalities Secretary Angela Constance has confirmed:
Ms Constance (above) said: “These actions will drive practical measures in the months and years ahead that demonstrate Scotland’s leadership in the fight against hate crime. We are making abundantly clear that there is no place here for intolerance, discrimination or violence.
“We must continue to tackle the underlying causes and conditions that allow hatred and intolerance to flourish. It is vital in these challenging times that we remain united, which is why we are redoubling our efforts to promote fairness, equality and a respect right across our society.”
