HATE crime charges linked to sexual orientation and disability increased last year, figures show.
A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) report found that 5640 charges containing at least one element of hate crime were reported to it in 2021-22, which was 0.2% down on 2020-21.
The figures showed that in 2021-22, 666 charges with an aggravation of prejudice relating to disability were reported, which was a whopping 44% more than in 2020-21 and the highest number since the legislation creating this aggravation came into force in 2010.
There was also a rise in charges with an aggravation of prejudice relating to sexual orientation, which rose to 1781, an increase of 10% on 2020-21.
Racial crime remained the most commonly reported hate crime with 3,107 charges relating to race crime reported in 2021-22, a decrease of 7% on the previous year.
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC said: “Hate crime has damaging consequences for individuals, our communities and society as a whole. No-one should find themselves targeted or abused for the simple act of being who they are.
“Offences which are fired by hatred and prejudice against race, religion, disability, transgender identity or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.
READ MORE: Scottish independence: The key point's from Nicola Sturgeon's 'scene setter'
“The Crown takes very seriously our responsibility to protect the public from this offending.
“We would urge any victim or witness to such crime to come forward and report it. They can be confident that Scottish prosecutors are committed to a robust approach to every report of hate crime they receive.”
The proportion of charges that contain a racial element has generally decreased over the last decade, from 75% in 2012-13 to 55% in 2021-22.
However, the proportion of hate crime charges that relate to sexual orientation has increased from 13% to 32% over the same period.
Charges with an aggravation of prejudice relating to transgender identity increased last year to 84 charges, which was 87% more than the 45 charges reported in 2020-21.
This is the highest number of such charges reported since the legislation introducing this aggravation came into force in 2010.
There were 512 charges with a religious aggravation reported in 2021-22, 16% fewer than in 2020-21.
In the last year for the first time the proportion of disability-related charges (12%) was greater than the proportion of religious-related charges (9%).
READ MORE: Scottish Tory councillor Andrew Polson arrested amid allegations of fraud
The report does not include information on convictions or conviction rates.
Justice Secretary Keith Brown said: “Hate crime is a corrosive form of offending that has hugely damaging effects on victims, their families and the wider community. These latest figures show that we all must redouble efforts to tackle hatred and prejudice in Scotland – it will not be tolerated.
“That is why the Scottish Government has committed to developing a new hate crime strategy, for publication later this year. Building on the successful delivery of the Tackling Prejudice and Building Connected Communities Action Plan, the new strategy will look at where we need to bolster approaches to effectively confront hate crime offending in Scotland. The strategy will also complement implementation of a modernised hate crime legislative framework, fit for the 21st century.
“To help support strategy development we have brought together a range of third sector organisations and public bodies – in the form of a Strategic Partnership Group – who each possess specific expertise in matters connected to tackling hate crime, eradicating prejudice, fostering community cohesion and advancing equalities and human rights.
“We continue to encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses a hate crime to report it directly to the police or via a third-party reporting service.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel