Humza Yousaf defends hate crime law

Humza Yousaf has rejected claims that Scotland's new hate crime law will be a "shambles from day one".

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said police could be "swamped" and innocent people would be investigated.

But the first minister said freedom of speech was protected, and the problem was hate crime itself, not the law.

The Hate and Public Order (Scotland) Act - which comes into force on 1 April - criminalises threatening or abusive behaviour which is intended to stir up hatred based on certain characteristics including age, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity.

21 March 2024

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