FM claims ‘patterns of hatred’ must be tracked
HUMZA Yousaf has defended the recording of non-criminal ‘hate incidents’ by police, amid a growing backlash to the practice.
In a car-crash interview with STV last night, the First Minister claimed it was necessary for police to log such incidents so they can keep track of any ‘patterns of hatred’ flaring up across the country.
His comments came after the Mail yesterday revealed how a tweet by Tory MSP Murdo Fraser criticising the Scottish Government’s transgender policy was logged as a ‘hate incident’.
Mr Yousaf, who has spearheaded the Hate Crime law coming into force on Monday, which creates a new offence of ‘stirring up hatred’ on the basis of disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and age, told STV News: ‘In terms of hate crime incidents it’s important they are recorded because it gives the police an idea of where there might be spikes in hatred.
‘That behaviour might not be criminal, but they can see a pattern. They’re simply done so police can see if there’s a rise in anti-Semitism, for example, or a rise in homophobia right across the country.
‘It’s important police are able to monitor any patterns of hatred that might emerge.’
Meanwhile, police have been told to brace themselves for a flood of requests from members of the public concerned they have been victim of a ‘hate crime’ complaint.
Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union (FSU), has urged ‘anyone who thinks they might have an Orwellian, “non-crime hate incident” logged against their name’ to submit a Subject Access Request to Police Scotland.
Under data protection laws, the public has a right to access certain information Police Scotland holds about them.
The police force has one month to respond to any valid requests.
Mr Young said: ‘The FSU believes the guidance the police are following, whereby
any report of a hate crime is logged as a “hate incident”, however trivial or vexatious, is unlawful.
‘Anyone who discovers they have been smeared in this way should contact the FSU. We’ll help them get it deleted.’
Mr Fraser added: ‘On top of the deluge of “hate” complaints Police Scotland will have to investigate when the Act comes into force, they can expect to be inundated with people wanting to know if they have been the subject of one.
‘It’s going to be an administrative and bureaucratic nightmare for a force already stretched to breaking point by SNP cuts.’