Police chief tells public figures to mind their language on immigration
SCOTLAND’S Chief Constable has issued a thinly veiled warning for public figures to mind their language on immigration as his force braces for Brexit.
Iain Livingstone and other senior officers have long stressed that community relations north of the Border remain good despite an upswing in xenophobia in England following the 2016 referendum.
Speaking to his main watchdog, the Scottish Police Authority yesterday, he offered reassurances to EU migrants that hate crimes would not be tolerated.
But he added that wider civic society also had to act responsibly. Mr Livingstone said: “We will always work very closely with the diverse communities of Scotland.
“But I think there are also duties on others in public life to make sure the language that is used is reasonable and stays within the confines of the law.”
Mr Livingstone was responding to remarks from an SPA member, former senior police officer Tom Halpin.
Mr Halpin had said: “For people in communities right now there is a level of fear we need to address, particularly those who are EU citizens who feel a personal vulnerability and uncertainty and then there there is an intolerance to migration that comes through that.
“Is there a message you could give us today that would help reassure those citizens in terms of not what we are doing now?”
Mr Livingstone replied: “The profile of Scottish society has become far more diverse. You can go in to any city, county or rural or island area and there will be significant representatives from the EU.
“Part of our approach is to be close to that community and give reassurance. We will not tolerate any form of hate crime, any form of abuse or hatred.”
He added: “At this stage we have not seen an increase in community tension but you are right to raise it and give me the opportunity to reassure everybody that, regardless of your nationality, we are your police service.”
WHAT has Brexit done to us? According to the Labour MP Owen Jones, speaking at PM’S Questions this week, it has precipitated a rising tide of racism. The former senior police officer Tom Halpin also raised his concerns yesterday at a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority. Some people in our communities are fearful, said Mr Halpin. Many EU citizens feel personally vulnerable and uncertain.
But isn’t it supposed to be different in Scotland? There are many who suggest there is more tolerance north of the Border than there is south of it. It is also true that community relations are generally good here – the chief constable Iain Livingstone said so at the SPA meeting.
However, Mr Livingstone had a warning too. The police would always work closely with the diverse communities of Scotland, he said, but there are duties on others in public life to make sure their language is reasonable.
Sadly, there are some politicians and public figures, particularly on the extreme Brexit wing, who have not always observed that standard, and on this there is a difference in Scotland. With some isolated exceptions, Scottish politicians have acquitted themselves well in the Brexit debate on the subject of immigration.
But the idea that Scotland is inherently more open on migration and race is open to question. We may not necessarily think of sectarianism as racism, but in 2016-17 the number of religiously aggravated charges rose by 12 per cent. The relatively small ethnic minority population in Scotland may also mean that racism is less conspicuous but not necessarily any less serious.
We should also remember the words of Tom Halpin at the SPA. There are some EU citizens who are feeling vulnerable, he says; there are some who are fearful, and sadly they will find very little comfort in the chaotic Brexit negotiations. What every politician and public figure can do though – what all of us can do – is heed the chief constable’s warning. On race, religion, nationality or political opinion, we can all mind our language.