Free to Disagree

The Free to Disagree campaign is fighting to protect freedom of expression in Scotland. Media enquiries: [email protected]

[Jamie Gillies @jmgillies]

Half of Scots want the Hate Crime Act ditched, a poll shows, as it’s revealed 10,000 reports were received in its first month of operation. A senior lawyer has labelled it “unworkable”.

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

Scotland's cash-strapped police force spent more than £60,000 on its 'Hate Monster' hate crime campaign, the Mail reports. The initiative was slammed for demonising young working class men, and suggesting people from poorer backgrounds are more 'hateful'.

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

Free to Disagree allies Jamie Gillies and Hardeep Singh took part in a podcast on free speech and Scotland’s Hate Crime Act. You can listen to it here 🎧https://t.co/0O9sPeEKbh

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

"So far, academics have been given little clarity about how the Hate Crime Act could affect them. This, in itself, is creating self-censorship and fear" - Romina Frohar. https://t.co/6wKwHz9aT9

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

Only 3.8% of hate crime law complaints have been authentic so far, Police Scotland says. Official data shows that 7,152 reports were received in the first week of the law's operation. https://t.co/jvrfVGruo8

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

A top police officer says he suspects many officers have still not received training on new hate crime legislation, leading to them “making it up on a case-by-case basis”. https://t.co/yXXN0yZ1VS

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

“The new law does contain some safeguards designed to protect freedom of speech, however we are concerned that the legislation could still be open to interpretation.”

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

The Society of Editors has spoken out on the Hate Crime Act: “While the Society supports efforts to tackle hate crime and prejudice, we remain concerned about the possible impact that the [Hate Crime Act] will have upon freedom of speech. https://t.co/kGDscc0kmL

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

“If we continue to see complaints at the rate we’ve seen, with people using the system to make political points, then it will lead to a reduction in police services. There is a risk with these volumes that we miss the genuine victims of crime".

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

David Threadgold, chair of the Scottish Police Federation: “The police service has some resilience built in, but there is no doubt that [the Hate Crime Act] will have an impact on resources and our ability to deliver effective policing across Scotland".

➡️https://t.co/uOrseynC4L

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

“Police officers are trying to do their best and enforce this new legislation which was introduced by the Scottish Government, but it’s the public perception of the force that is at risk.”

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

Around 8,000 reports of hate crime have been made in the first week of the Hate Crime Act coming into force, The Telegraph reports. Today @ScotsPolFed warns: “This legislation will have an impact on resources and our ability to deliver effective policing across Scotland”.

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

The Scottish Police Federation has consistently raised concerns about the Hate Crime Act. It knows the needs of front line officers, and the huge pressures they are facing. MSPs should listen.

[ScotsPolFed @ScotsPolFed]

'While the vast majority of complaints will end up being deemed for no further action, each [case] has to be closely checked and assessed, so that is using resources which could be used elsewhere.' https://t.co/LOAhOMS6yX

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

The Scottish hate crime law will force police to make cuts, senior officers have warned, as staff work overtime to deal with the volume of complaints. Police Scotland has been inundated with more than 6,000 complaints since the Hate Crime law took effect. https://t.co/l7iXHPiC4u

[Jamie Gillies @jmgillies]

My thoughts on Scotland's Hate Crime Act for Free to Disagree. A bùrach that threatens free speech and the integrity of the police. https://t.co/rzrML3fBH3

[Kate Maltby @KateMaltby]

Theatre censorship is just one risk back on the menu. Campaigners such as @_freetodisagree (backed by @IndexCensorship) forced a climbdown despite Humza Yousaf's wish to have the law cover “the public performance of a play". But police are training as if theatre is still covered.

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

"This appears to be a political decision, favouring the powerful, that's designed to avoid police embarrassment. Members of the public are held to a different standard again. This policy is Orwellian and unworkable. It's also a waste of police time. It should be scrapped.”

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

Free to Disagree's Jamie Gillies commented: “Police Scotland's decision not to log ‘non-crime hate incidents' against JK Rowling and Humza Yousaf makes no sense given the wording of this perception-based policy, which was applied as stated to Murdo Fraser MSP.

[Free to Disagree @_freetodisagree]

What does the Scottish Hate Crime and Public Order Act really say? @michaelpforan https://t.co/kKG985IBO3