Tackling hate crime must be a national priority, finds report
More than half of LGBT+ people have been victims of hate crime n the past year, a charity has said.
The Equality Network released interim findings of a survey it is conducting, which show shocking levels of prejudice in society.
Results gained so far show that 63% of LGBT+ people have been the target of a hate crime, the majority of which happened in the last year and 29% have been physically attacked because they are LGBT+.
The charity spoke out as the report of the Scottish Government’s Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion was published.
It said that tackling hate crimes must be made a national priority.
In the aftermath of the EU referendum, it is vital that we send a message that Scotland remains a welcoming place
Hannah Pearson, the Equality Network’s policy coordinator, said: “We welcome the report’s recognition that hate crime can only be fully tackled by addressing prejudice and improving community cohesion more widely, including through school education.
“All schools should be inclusive and welcoming of diversity, including LGBT+ people. As the report says, we need to develop teachers’ capacity around this, involve young people, and ensure the school inspections framework encourages this.”
The Equality Network also welcomed that the report recognises the central role that Police Scotland have in tackling hate crime.
Interim results from the Equality Network’s hate crime survey reveal that 70% of LGBT+ people who have experienced a hate crime, did not report it to the police.
Earlier this year the Equality Network provided LGBT+ hate crime training to over 90 police officers.
Tim Hopkins, director of the Equality Network, said: “Following the training we provided to police across Scotland, we hope that a national network of LGBTI liaison police officers will be established, and that training can be rolled out for other police. This will help give people greater confidence to report hate crime."
The Equality Network also welcome the highlighting in the report of three areas that need particular focus: public transport; the internet (in particular social media); and the workplace.
Interim figures from their survey show that 22% of LGBT+ people have experienced verbal abuse on public transport; 22% have been subject to online abuse; and 17% have been abused at work.
A gay man from the north-east of Scotland responding to the Equality Network’s survey said: “I have received online abuse for being gay, have been harassed and teased at work and had physical threats and eggs thrown at me on the train because of my sexual orientation”.
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance welcomed the work of the advisory group, which noted that that racist offences are the most prominent hate crime category, but have been falling slightly while reports of offences based on sexual orientation had increased 20% in the past year.
She said: "As a nation, we have a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, and we are committed to supporting their integration into our communities. That has assumed even more importance in the aftermath of the EU referendum, when it is vital that we send a message that Scotland remains a welcoming place for all those who have chosen to make this country their home.
"I recognise that there is still progress to be made, and we will be carefully considering the recommendations from the advisory group in full."
The Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland said it was important there was "coordinated leadership", saying a "zero tolerance approach" could isolate offenders.
Director Alastair Pringle said: "This is fundamentally a responsibility for all of us in Scotland. We all have a part to play, from the Scottish government, to our schools, to our workplaces, to each of us all as individuals.
"I was struck by a recent reported case where several passengers complained about the offensive behaviour and racist language from other passengers on a flight to Ibiza. This resulted in their removal from the flight.
"I think this demonstrates exactly how we can make a change in society by refusing to be a bystander, showing responsible leadership by example and speaking up and being an active citizen."
The Equality Network’s hate crime survey of LGBTI people in Scotland is still open for responses, and can be found here.
