The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
SNP has divided country with hate crime law and put an intolerable load on police
Frontline officers have been put under intolerable pressure by the new hate crime law which appropriately came into force on April Fools’ Day. Police Scotland is under the cosh from swathes of Scottish society angry at what they see as the dangerous curtailment of free speech. But the job of a police force is to enforce the law.
The police don’t have to like it, and from what I can see very few do – yet they have to discharge their sworn duties in effecting the law of the land.
And they have to do this no matter how foolish and unworkable those laws are in practice, as opposed to how they sound in theory in the playground of Holyrood where naive politicians railroaded this through without listening to the reasoned amendments proposed by the few sensible voices warning of the potential pitfalls.
Imbued with their desperate desire to virtue signal and display the milk of human kindness to ensure no one should ever be upset, hurt or offended, MSPs have passed a law that has managed to unite people across the political spectrum in opposition to it.
The list of those with concerns includes JK Rowling, SNP MP Joanna Cherry, dean of the Faculty of Advocates Roddy Dunlop KC, the Scottish Police Federation and the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents.
The SNP-Green coalition pushed this through, but it was backed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats too.
The average response cop dealing with much of the vexatious verbiage which will pass for hate allegations has been given a two-hour online training module and is now expected to handle complaints which could see those charged and convicted go to jail for up to seven years.
Interpreting the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 already divides those who have studied and practised law, from everyday working solicitors to King’s Counsel.
So what hope does the everyday beat cop, with a couple of hours of study sandwiched between the wide variety of jobs they do, have in assessing complaints sensibly under this legislation?
The problem with this act is not just the possibility of being convicted of a hate crime – it is the unintended consequences of the law that are also a major worry, as Murdo Fraser has discovered.
The Tory MSP found out by chance that a complaint against him for a post on X in which he had joked about SNP gender policies, although not a hate crime, had
been kept on file as a “non-hate crime incident”.
Such recording of something which is not illegal could seriously damage someone’s future job opportunities in sectors where disclosures may be made to some prospective employers or voluntary organisations.
(Note – Police Scotland has recorded non-crime hate incidents for several years. During an enhanced disclosure, and at the chief constable’s discretion, police can share information they hold with prospective employers.)
Officers are under instructions to record incidents based on the perception of those who have been offended and feel they have been a victim of a hate crime.
The notion of offence is therefore a completely subjective one decided by the individual complainant.
The SNP has already come a cropper on the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and the Named Persons Act.
Both were illiberal pieces of legislation from an illiberal government.
Now, in trying to tackle hate, it has simply further divided the country, with women’s groups, for instance, angry they are excluded – while transgender people are included as a protected group.
I suspect the protests at Holyrood on Monday, which attracted widespread support from across the political divide, will now multiply mightily as people fight back to change this bad law.
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I support Eve Muirhead’s battle to protect Perth’s leisure facilities. Backed by The Courier, she is battling to ensure the future of curling and other sports which have been under threat in the city.
Sport is enormously important for both physical and mental wellbeing in my view.
I run, cycle or do boxing bag training most days of the week and, if I miss a day, I get itchy. Whether it’s the boost from endorphins or just the enjoyment of the fresh air, exercise for me is as essential a part of my life as eating and sleeping.
And in team sports like curling and football and others, the benefits and sense
Incidents are recorded based on hate crime victims’ perceptions
of camaraderie and fellowship can’t be over-emphasised.
I’m in favour of more and regular PE in schools and regular exercise and sport for all adults who can partake in it.
It boosts mental and physical wellbeing, and with concerns over an obesity crisis, it’s very important for the NHS.
Fit folk don’t attend the doctor as often as those who aren’t healthy.
I’d like major investment in infrastructure and facilities for the nation to keep itself in shape. It will save money in the long run, alleviating many future health problems.