‘Bad faith actors’ made vexatious complaints under Hate Crime Act – Yousaf

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act came into force on April 1, sparking a deluge of complaints, with almost 3,500 on the first day, prompting concerns about police being overwhelmed.

By the end of the first week, more than 7,000 complaints had been made online – most of them anonymously – but just 240 hate crimes had been recorded along with 30 non-crime hate incidents.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday, First Minister Humza Yousaf said the legislation had been weaponised.

“What we have seen with the introduction of the Hate Crime Act, in the first few days in particular, was a series, I think, of bad faith actors who decided to put in vexatious complaints in order to try to waste police time – which is a pretty serious matter,” he said.

Mr Yousaf added there were almost 7,000 reports of hate crime in the 2021-22 financial year and the new legislation is designed to “safeguard” minorities.

The Act consolidates existing hate crime legislation and creates a new stirring-up offence for some protected characteristics – but opponents have suggested it could have a chilling effect on free speech.

This week, the Scottish Tories will hold a debate in Holyrood pushing for the legislation to be repealed, with the party claiming it is straining police resources.

The SNP and Greens form a majority in Holyrood that would require all opposition parties to vote for the motion and 13 from within their own ranks to rebel, meaning it will most likely fail.

One of the criticisms of the legislation is it does not create a stirring-up offence for the protected characteristic of…