Police Scotland hit with almost 4,000 complaints in first 48 hours of Humza Yousaf's new hate crime law

3 April 2024, 11:58 | Updated: 3 April 2024, 12:01

It is understood that the number of complaints could have reached as high as 3,800.
It is understood that the number of complaints could have reached as high as 3,800. Picture: Alamy
Jasmine Moody

By Jasmine Moody

Police Scotland was flooded with nearly 4,000 complaints in the first two days of Humza Yousaf's hate crime law coming into force.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Police are reported to have received a complaint against the Act every two minutes during the first few days of the legislation.

It is understood that the number of complaints could have reached as high as 3,800, according to Calum Steele, the former general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation.

"More than half" have not yet been processed, he added, but every report will be considered, says Police Scotland.

Police are reported to have received a complaint against the Act every two minutes during the first few days of the legislation.
Police are reported to have received a complaint against the Act every two minutes during the first few days of the legislation. Picture: Alamy

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, which came into effect on Monday, makes it a criminal offence to make derogatory comments based on disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or being intersex.

Read more: 'Right-wing' Joe Rogan and Elon Musk's criticism of Scotland’s hate crime act is no surprise’, Humza Yousaf says

Read more: JK Rowling vows to stand by ‘lower-profile women’ who are pursued by police under Scotland’s new hate crime law

Stirring up hatred based on race, colour, nationality or ethnicity was already illegal in Great Britain under the Public Order Act 1986 but is now included in the new law.

Three protesters.
Three protesters. Picture: Alamy

The new law has proved controversial, with roughly 300 protesters gathering outside Scotland's Parliament to demonstrate against the legislation, with some saying they are "prepared to be jailed".

Ex-Tory MP can't 'understand why SNP's new hate crime law is 'necessary'

Speaking on Cross Question to LBC's Iain Dale, ex-Tory MP Angela Knight said the new hate crime law is "unclear" and can't "understand why it's necessary."

High-profile freedom of speech activists have objected to the legislation, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Elon Musk and American Commentator Joe Rogan.

When asked by LBC how he would respond to Elon Musk and Joe Rogan's comments, Humza Yousaf said: "They are right-wing actors of course and I think it's very clear, from particularly someone like Joe Rogan, that there's never going to be sympathy for the fact we are bringing in legislation that is clamping down on hatred."

First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf.
First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf. Picture: Alamy

Mr Yousaf added: "I'm very confident we've got a robust piece of legislation that will protect people against the riding tide of hatred we see right across the world."

One extremely outspoken public figure is author JK Rowling, a self-proclaimed TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist).

Included in a lengthy statement on Twitter, she wrote: “I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment,” in response to the new legislation.

Police have already confirmed that comments made by Ms Rowling on social media on Monday were "not assessed to be criminal" and "no further action will be taken" against the writer.

Now, a Scottish Government minister has refused to say if comments by Harry Potter author JK Rowling could have been recorded by police as a non-crime hate incident.

Community safety minister Siobhian Brown said it is an operational matter for Police Scotland - who have been enforcing the new legislation.

A non-crime hate incident is recorded when an incident does not meet the threshold for a crime but is perceived to be "motivated (wholly or partly) by malice and ill-will towards a social group", according to Police Scotland guidance.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Former Chief Whip Simon Hart has revealed details of a call from a Tory MP who asked to be saved from a brothel.

Former Chief Whip shares desperate call from Tory MP who 'needed saving from brothel with KGB agent and CCTV'

Tesco app and website.

Tesco app and website reporting issues, leaving customers unable to do online shopping

Exclusive
A graphic depiction of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, the two documentary makers behind the project are now facing criticism over the children featured.

BBC has 'serious questions to answer' over claims Gaza documentary features Hamas leader's son, says Jon Sopel

Charlotte Peet has gone missing in Brazil.

Father of Brit journalist missing in Brazil breaks silence as he reveals moment daughter's 'trail went cold'

Avoriaz is a French mountain resort

Brit skier, 23, found dead beneath French Alps cliff after 'plunging 260ft on return from night out'

Austrian police arrest teenager over 'attack at railway station'

Isis supporting boy, 14, 'who planned attack at railway station' held by Austrian police

Janice Nix, 66, was charged with manslaughter in connection with death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard in 1978

Woman, 66, appears in court charged with manslaughter of five-year-old who died after scalding bath

Davi Nunes Moreira, of Planalto, Brazil, passed away seven days after injecting a solution made from a crushed butterfly into his leg.

Boy who injected himself with crushed butterfly for 'online challenge' suffered week of agonising symptoms before death

Jack Bennett pleaded guilty to sending malicious communications to the mayor of London and the Birmingham Yardley MP

Man jailed for sending malicious messages to Sir Sadiq Khan and Jess Phillips was 'radicalised online,' Mayor tells LBC

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the stabbing of a 20-year-old man in Hackney.

Two men arrested on suspicion of murder after 20-year-old dies in east London stabbing

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA scientist increase chance of 'city killer' asteroid 'the size of Big Ben' striking earth

The scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared on Monday night. The large sinkhole has forced the closure of the high street in the Surrey village.

Major incident declared after second sinkhole opens up on residential Surrey street

Exclusive
Sadiq Khan

'It's bonkers': Sadiq Khan hits out at Trump for 'rewarding' Putin while excluding Ukraine from peace talks

The mother of Lindsay Foreman, left, who is being detained in Iran for alleged espionage, says the charges are made up.

Mother of Brit detained in Iran during round-the-world motorbike trip says espionage charges are 'made up'

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Trump is living in a ‘disinformation space’, says Zelenskyy as he hits back at US for ‘helping’ Putin 'come out of isolation'

Examples of 'zombie knives' at a secure police location in Birmingham. Underage teenagers buying knives online remains 'a really concerning picture' for police, with illegal dealers selling weapons via social media.

Labour announces crackdown on online knife sellers as weapons 'easier for young people to buy than paracetamol'