Online hate crimes decrease in second week after new law, say Police Scotland
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Police Scotland says that online hate crime reports have dropped significantly in the second week after the introduction of a new law.
The number of online hate reports being received by Police Scotland has dropped almost 75 per cent in the second week since the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 on April 1, 2024.
Management data released by Police Scotland shows there were 1832 online hate reports received between April, 8 and 14, 2024, which is down from 7152 the previous week.
The vast majority of reports received during this period were anonymous. These were assessed against the new legislation and no further action is being taken. There were 213 hate crimes recorded in the same period, down from 240 the previous week.
Police also recorded 25 non-crime hate incidents, five fewer than between April 1 and 7, 2024.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have seen a significant reduction in the number of online hate reports and these continue to be managed within our contact centres with minimal impact on frontline policing.
“All complaints received are reviewed by officers, supported by dedicated hate crime advisers, and dealt with appropriately, whether that is being progressed for further assessment, or closed as they do not meet the criteria under the legislation”.
The data can be accessed here: www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/hate-crime/hate-crime-data/
A new Scottish Government public awareness-raising campaign supported by Police Scotland has been launched. The Hate Hurts campaign shows the impact of hate crimes and encourages those who have witnessed or experienced a hate crime to come forward.
