Police Scotland chief says tackling hate crime is 'absolute priority'

Date: 17th October 2016
Category: Non-discrimination

Speaking at the start of Hate Crime Awareness Week, the chief of Police Scotland said he was determined to eradicate all forms of hatred in Scotland. A new network of LGBTI liaison officers has been established to improve the reporting of hate crimes.

The chief constable's comments come after a recent report called for a stronger approach to tackling hate crime in Scotland. It found the issue was far worse than official figures suggested.

• Download the report on of the independent advisory group on hate crime, prejudice and community cohesion here.

The report recognises the importance of education and peer-led support in tackling hate crime and prejudicial bullying and discrimination amongst children and young people, as well as avoiding labelling young people as 'criminal' which may be a barrier to working with them to address behaviours and attitudes.

In response to concerns highlighted in the report, about 90 officers have been trained to work with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex community as well as an initiative involving the I Am Me charity, which provides support for disabled people.

• Read more on this via the media here.