Sectarianism fears in
12% ‘intimidated’ due to a hate crime
THE number of people worried about sectarianism has increased in Glasgow.
The Glasgow Household Survey shows that 12 per cent of people were worried about the problems and of those who had experienced a hate crime one in five was related to sectarianism.
Despite people stating they had been a victim of sectarian hate crime only three out of 10 people said they had reported the offence either to the police or someone else.
The survey found 12 per cent had been “pestered or intimidated” as a result of hate crime, mostly in person by another.
Of those who had been pestered or intimidated in the last 12 months, 27 per cent said it as their ethnic origin or race and another 27 per cent said it was their gender identity.
Almost one in four said it was their religion; while 20 per cent cited sectarianism, 18 per cent said it was their disability; and 17 per cent their age.
Outside their home in their neighbourhood or in or outside a pub where the most common locations for hate crime abuse.
Anti sectarianism campaigners said that people need to be able to fee confident they will be taken seriously if they report abuse.
Dave Scott, of anti-sectarian charity Nil By Mouth, said: “It is good to see sectarianism being looked at in proportion. Perception is often higher than it is in reality but it is still too high.
“There is across the country a perception still that sectarianism is as banter and it is dismissed.
“As such people don’t think it will be taken seriously if they report it and worry it will be dismissed as humorous banter.
“What this survey tells me is there’s still too many feel it won’t be taken seriously. That is something we need to look at.
“Law enforcement agencies and employers need to say they are serious about it and it will be addressed.”