Capability welcomes hate crime announcement

15/01/2008

Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, has announced that hate crime legislation is to be strengthened to protect disabled people and those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities.

 The Scottish Government has given its backing to Green MSP Patrick Harvie’s proposal for a Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Bill. The legislation will be taken forward early this year as a handout Member’s Bill.

 Mr MacAskill said: “Living in safe and strong communities is an essential part of our positive vision for Scotland. For too many people that vision is blurred by the fear of crime and intolerance. 
 
 “While good government needs a clear vision we must also deal decisively with immediate problems.  To do otherwise would compromise public safety - that is why I am delighted to announce today Government support for a bill which will extend statutory aggravations to cover crimes motivated by malice or ill will towards victims based on their sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.

 ”No one in Scotland should be targeted or victimised because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.  Our clear aim is to prevent and   deter crimes. But where crime does happen it will not be tolerated.

 “I’d like to pay tribute to Patrick Harvie for his contribution and support in helping  to keep this near the top of the government’s agenda. Through early, productive discussions with Mr Harvie we were able to decide on how best to achieve our shared aim.”  

Responding to the announcement, Capability Scotland’s Chief Executive, Alan Dickson, commented: There is widespread support for the introduction of a statutory aggravation where crimes are motivated by hatred of disabled or LGBT people. This is reflected in the fact that hate crime legislation was a pledge in three of the four parties' manifestos - the Greens, the LibDems and the SNP.
 
“Some people think that this is a minority issue: however, any of us could be the victim of a hate crime. Capability Scotland’s own research highlights that 47% of disabled respondents had experienced hate crime - with 31% of those experiencing attacks at least once a month. We would call on MSPs to support Patrick Harvie's bill.”
 
Capability Scotland was one of a number of organisations representing disabled and LGBT groups which participated in the Scottish Executive's Working Group on hate crimes. The working group consulted widely on public perceptions of the need for hate crime legislation and published its final report in October 2004. The report called for a statutory aggravation where crimes were motivated by hatred of disabled or LGBT people to be introduced as soon as possible.”

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