Scotland's new Hate Crime and Public Order Act, effective April 1, expands hate crime charges to include age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, and variations in sex characteristics.
Scotland's new Hate Crime and Public Order Act, in effect since April 1, expands criminal charges for threatening or abusive behavior to include age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, and variations in sex characteristics. The law aims to balance free speech with minority protection, but critics argue it could limit online speech and serve as a political control tool. Since implementation, over 8,000 complaints have been filed with police.
April 23, 2024
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