| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the aggravation of offences by prejudice; to make provision about an offence of racially aggravated harassment; to make provision about offences relating to stirring up hatred against a group of persons; to abolish the common law offence of blasphemy; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 asp 14 |
| Territorial extent | Scotland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 23 April 2021 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repeals/revokes |
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Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
Background
The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in April 2020, following an independent review of Scotland's hate crime legislation carried out by Lord Bracadale, which recommended consolidation of all hate crime law into one bill.[1] The Bill was controversial, with opponents saying it could stifle freedom of speech. One concern was the potential for the act to be used for prosecuting author J. K. Rowling for transphobia.[2] The Scottish Police Federation and the Law Society of Scotland expressed concerns over the freedom of expression.[3]
The final vote on the Bill was delayed by a day after a number of amendments were proposed.[4] The Bill passed on 11 March 2021, with 82 votes in favour, 32 votes against, and 4 abstentions.[5]
Act
The Act abolishes the offence of blasphemy, which had not been prosecuted in Scotland for more than 175 years.[1]
References
- 1 2
This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Hate Crime Bill passed". Scottish Government. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021. - ↑ "Why is Scotland's Hate Crime Bill so controversial?". BBC News. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ↑ "New Scottish hate crime laws 'could devastate legitimacy of police'". BBC News. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ↑ "Hate crime vote delayed after marathon Holyrood debate". BBC News. 10 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ↑ "MSPs approve Scotland's controversial hate crime law". BBC News. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
Further reading
- Campbell, Alastair P. (2018). Independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation in Scotland: Final Report (published 31 May 2018). ISBN 978-1-78851-849-9.