Three per cent of hate reports are‘crime’

Police Scotland say that of the more than 7,000 hate complaints reported in the first week of controversial new hate legislation coming into force, just three percent were found to be a crime.

Their statistics show 7,152 hate reports were made to police online between April 1 and April 7.

Officers found only 240 of these were hate crimes, just 3.3 per cent of all hate reports.

As well as the more than 7,000 online reports, police also dealt with 430 incidents in the first week where a hate crime tag was added, while there were 34 calls to either 101 or 999 relating to a hate crime and 141 emails sent to Police Scotland for the same purpose.

The Scottish Government’s Hate Crime and Public Order Act came into force at the start of the month, sparking a sharp rise in the number of hate complaints.

It takes existing laws around the stirring up of hatred on the basis of race and extends that to other groups including transgender and disabled people.

The vast majority of reports received during this period were anonymous, the force added.

These were assessed against the new legislation and no further action is being taken.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “This data highlights the substantial increase in the number of online hate reports being received since April 1.

“This significant demand continues to be managed within our contact centres and so far the impact on frontline policing, our ability to answer calls and respond to those who need our help in communities across Scotland has been minimal.

“All complaints received are reviewed by officers, supported by dedicated hate crime advisers, and dealt with appropriately, whether that is being progressed for further assessment, or closed as they do not meet the criteria under the legislation.”