Police Scotland refute claims officers told to 'target actors and comedians' under new hate crime laws

Police Scotland has refuted claims that officers have been told to target actors and comedians under the country’s new hate crime laws.

The force has described reports suggesting that officers have been told to target performers as “inaccurate”.

The legislation will create a new offence of stirring up hatred against protected characteristics, including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, matching a similar offence based on race that has been on the statute book for decades.

Training material given to officers ahead of the new law coming in on April 1, and seen by The Herald newspaper, outlines the different ways in which a person might communicate material to another person.

It goes on to use online streaming, email, playing a video and through public performance of a play as examples.

Police Scotland has now said the examples were “a range of scenarios where offences might take place” and that officers have not been told to target these situations or locations.

A statement issued on Tuesday reads: “We are aware of inaccurate media reporting and commentary today about the training material we have in place for the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.

“Police Scotland is not instructing officers to target actors, comedians, or any other people or groups.

“Our training package has been developed in close consultation with stakeholders to ensure all characteristics protected by legislation under the new Act are clearly represented and articulated, and that officers are best prepared when they respond to hate crimes and incidents.

“The training material was based on the Scottish Government’s explanatory notes which accompany the legislation: Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 – Explanatory Notes (legislation.gov.uk).

“This included examples of a range of scenarios where offences might take place, but this does not mean officers have been told to target these situations or locations.

“Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and officers balance the protections people have under human rights legislation against other laws every day.

“Our training for the new Act therefore reminds officers of their human rights obligations and it reflects all aspects of the new legislation, including the protection it includes around freedom of expression.”

The Bill was heavily criticised during its creation with ministers repeatedly forced to climb down on certain provisions, such as the potential impact on performers.