Hate crime law comes into force

The Scotttish Government has today introduced legislation to better protect disabled people and those from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities.

The Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 will extend hate crimes to cover disabled people as well as those in LGBT communities.

Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, said, “There is no excuse for any form of hate crime; it is simply not acceptable and it will not be tolerated. When it does happen, victims must have the confidence to report it, confident that they will receive a good level of service from the police and other agencies”.