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Hate crime in Scotland: What’s the new law all about?

Scotland’s new hate crime law has come into force.

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

The BBC’s Scotland editor James Cook looks at why the law has proved controversial.

Filmed by Laura Kingwell and edited by Morgan Spence

1 April 2024

Scottish government

Emotional abuse

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