Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Recorded hate crimes in Scotland surge after new law

Police Scotland said more than 5,400 hate crimes had been recorded in the past six months

Recorded hate crimes in Scotland surge after new law
A member of the public walks past a hate crime billboard in Dennistoun on April 10, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

SCOTLAND has seen a significant rise in hate crimes, with a 63 per cent increase since the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order Act in April. Over 5,400 hate crimes have been reported in the past six months, primarily linked to race and age, reported the BBC.

The legislation introduced a new offence aimed at tackling threatening or abusive behaviour intended to incite hatred against protected groups, including those based on race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and transgender identity.


Police Scotland suggested that this surge in reported hate crimes is not just a reflection of more incidents but also a sign that people now feel more confident in reporting them. The law’s introduction has made the public more aware of hate crime protections, leading to an influx of reports.

In the first week alone, more than 7,000 online hate crime reports were submitted. However, only 240 of these were classified as crimes after review.

Since the law came into effect, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has taken prosecutorial action on 468 charges from April to September. So far, 42 cases have resulted in convictions, while over 80 per cent of the cases are still going through the court system.

A spokesman from COPFS said that each case is given thorough attention, highlighting the importance of avoiding premature judgments about the law's effectiveness. With many cases still in court, it’s too early to fully assess the long-term impact of the legislation.

“As one would expect in such a short time many of the charges reported are still ongoing in court and it would not be prudent to make any assumptions regarding the efficacy of legislation at such an early stage," the spokesman was quoted as saying.

The new act has been met with controversy since its introduction. The bill was designed to consolidate existing hate crime laws while creating a new offence of "stirring up hatred." It aims to better protect vulnerable communities but has also sparked concerns about free speech.

Author J.K. Rowling has been a vocal critic of the law, arguing that it could potentially criminalise individuals expressing views on sensitive topics, such as gender identity.

Despite these concerns, early statistics show that cases involving gender have been less frequent than those involving race and age, with around 300 incidents linked to age-related abuse.

Community safety minister Siobhian Brown has pointed out that some complaints made shortly after the law’s introduction were false or vexatious. Several complaints even targeted high-profile figures, such as former first minister Humza Yousaf. The initial flood of reports has since stabilised.

Additionally, about 10 per cent of the reported hate crimes were later classified as non-crime hate incidents. Cities such as Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow recorded the highest numbers of hate crime reports.

In some cases, hate crimes were even directed at on-duty police officers, with 679 incidents targeting law enforcement personnel.

More For You

F1 Silverstone 2025 qualifying

Lewis Hamilton is optimistic about Ferrari's chances at the 2025 British Grand Prix

Getty Images

F1 qualifying time boost for Ferrari as Hamilton impresses at Silverstone 2025

Key points

  • Lewis Hamilton topped FP1 and finished third in FP2 at Silverstone
  • Ferrari's pace encouraging despite rivals bringing major upgrades
  • Hamilton targeting strong weekend, focused on car improvements
  • Charles Leclerc also positive on Ferrari's race pace ahead of F1 qualifying time
  • Silverstone qualifying 2025 set to be highly competitive

Hamilton leads strong start for Ferrari at Silverstone

Lewis Hamilton is optimistic about Ferrari's chances at the 2025 British Grand Prix following an encouraging performance during Friday practice at Silverstone. The seven-time World Champion topped the timesheets in Free Practice 1 and secured P3 in the afternoon session, marking one of his best Fridays since joining Ferrari earlier this year.

“It was a really good day,” said Hamilton. “Great to see the crowd. Amazing to be out on track in a Ferrari here at Silverstone.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Brothers deny assaulting police during Manchester Airport brawl

TWO brothers accused of assaulting a man inside a Starbucks and later attacking police officers at Manchester Airport are standing trial, with the prosecution arguing they used "unlawful and extreme violence".

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his older brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, both from Rochdale, are said to have acted aggressively on July 23 last year while at the airport to pick up their mother, who had arrived on a flight from Qatar.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2

New standalone story with fresh characters and darker themes

YouTube/ Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk Edgerunners season 2 confirmed with darker, bloodier storyline

Key points

  • Netflix announces Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 at Anime Expo 2025
  • New standalone story with fresh characters and darker themes
  • Directed by Kai Ikarashi, known for episode six of season one
  • Showrunner promises more violence, emotional depth, and realism
  • Trailer expected to be released during Studio Trigger panel

New season revealed at Anime Expo 2025

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 has officially been announced by Netflix and CD Projekt Red during the Anime Expo 2025 event. The follow-up to the hit anime spinoff of Cyberpunk 2077 will feature a completely new storyline and characters, while retaining the series’ distinctive raw and emotional tone.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aaradhya Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan says Aishwarya Rai is fully responsible for Aaradhya’s upbringing

Getty Images

Abhishek Bachchan praises Aishwarya Rai for raising Aaradhya without phone or social media

Quick highlights:

  • Abhishek Bachchan credits Aishwarya Rai for taking the lead in daughter Aaradhya’s upbringing.
  • Says Aaradhya, now 13, has no phone and stays away from social media.
  • Calls Aishwarya “selfless” for prioritising parenting over everything else.
  • Slams online gossip surrounding their marriage as baseless and insensitive.

Actor Abhishek Bachchan has dismissed recent speculation around his marriage with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, instead shining a light on her unwavering dedication as a mother. In a recent chat, he spoke warmly about their 13-year-old daughter Aaradhya, revealing that she neither owns a mobile phone nor uses social media, something he attributes to Aishwarya’s hands-on parenting.

 Aaradhya Bachchan  Aaradhya Bachchan has no access to social media or a personal phoneGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less