Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 15 December 2020
I am pleased to open the stage 1 debate on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill.
I intend to respond in my speech to a number of issues that were raised during the scrutiny process, but first I thank the members of the Justice Committee and the clerking team, and all those who gave evidence. Their evidence has helped to shape the comprehensive and helpful stage 1 report, and the majority of the recommendations in it have been accepted and welcomed by the Government.
Justice Committee members heard from Lord Bracadale at the start of their scrutiny of the bill. In 2018, Lord Bracadale published a report on hate crime that was commissioned by the Scottish Government. In commissioning that report, the then Minister for Community Safety—and now member of the Justice Committee—Annabelle Ewing, explained that
“racism, intolerance and prejudice of all kinds are a constant threat to society and, while Scotland is an open and inclusive nation, we are not immune from that threat … This review will help ensure that we have the right legislative protections in place to tackle hate crime wherever and whenever it happens.”
I could not agree more with that sentiment. It is as true now as it was when Annabelle Ewing made that statement.
I thank Lord Bracadale for his extensive report, on which the bill is based. The Scottish Government consulted on his recommendations in late 2018, and, informed by the views offered, developed and introduced the bill earlier this year.
I do not think that anyone disagrees with the need to address hateful behaviour. It is only by confronting such behaviour that we can collectively build the Scotland that we all want to see, where everyone can live free from hatred and prejudice.
The bill, which spent several years in development, through the independent review and the Scottish Government consultation, is designed to consolidate, modernise and reform hate crime law in Scotland.
Hate crime is not merely the use of unpleasant words that offend people; hatred has an insidious and corrosive effect on society. We often talk about that societal impact, and we are right to do so. We should also not lose sight of the impact that hate crime can have on the individual affected and on their family. I know that from personal experience, but so do many other victims who have been the targets of hate because of their sexuality, their race, their religion, their transgender identity or, indeed, any other characteristics, such as disability.