What is hate crime?
Hate crime is the term used to describe behaviour which is both criminal and rooted in prejudice and is something Police Scotland take very seriously.
The legal definition of hate crime is "any crime which is understood by the victim or any other person as being motivated (wholly or partly) by malice or ill will towards a social group."
The groups or characteristics recognised under hate crime law
In Scotland, the law currently recognises hate crime based on prejudice towards groups or protected characteristics. These are
- age
- disability
- race, colour, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origins
- religion or belief
- sexual orientation
- transgender identity
- variations in sex characteristics
Hate crime can target an individual or an entire group.
The person experiencing hate does not always need to be in one of these groups.
The law applies to crimes based on someone’s belief about your identity, even if that is incorrect.
What hate crime can look like
Hate crime can be verbal or physical including
- threatening behaviour
- verbal abuse or insults including name-calling
- assaults
- robbery
- damage to property
- encouraging others to commit hate crimes
- harassment
- online abuse on sites like Facebook or Twitter
What to do if you’ve experienced or witnessed a hate crime
If you have been a target or see someone else being targeted, report a hate crime to Police Scotland.