Lord Advocate warns against abhorrent ‘revenge attacks’ on ethnic minorities in Scotland

“Narrow minded and hateful” people have been conducting “deluded revenge attacks” on ethnic minorities in Scotland in response to world events, the Lord Advocate has warned.

Frank Mulholland has joined with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Police Scotland Chief Constable Phil Gormley “to send a powerful message of support to immigrants who settle in Scotland that the country will not tolerate prejudice against them or any other community”.

Refugee groups have expressed concern hate crime suffered by immigrants is under-reported because many immigrants have fled countries where they could not trust law enforcement.

Speaking ahead of a joint Crown Office/Police Scotland conference on hate crime, Mr Mulholland said: “Scotland is one of the most welcoming countries in the world and it has some of the most effective laws for prosecuting those who commit crimes on the basis of race, gender, religion.

“Although racial crime remains the most commonly reported hate crime, it is at its lowest level for over 10 years, which is a welcome step in the right direction.

“Our ultimate aim is to eradicate offending of this nature altogether and with the help of the public we can achieve that.

“Unfortunately, following recent events around the world, a narrow-minded and hateful minority have been targeting those we have welcomed into our country, and other members of our diverse nation, in deluded ‘revenge attacks’.

“Such behaviour is abhorrent and it will be dealt with swiftly and with a zero-tolerance approach using the full range of powers available to us.

“There is absolutely no place for prejudice in Scotland for individuals who commit racist crimes or any other crimes motivated by prejudice towards a person’s religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity.”

Mr Gormley said: ” Scotland’s diverse communities have a justifiably proud reputation as welcoming and safe.

“Police Scotland will actively target the small minority of individuals who seek to marginalise and isolate others on the basis of their actual or presumed sexual orientation, transgender identity, disability, race or religion.

“Everyone has the right to live their life in safety and without fear.”

Ms Sturgeon said: “There’s simply no excuse for any form of hate crime in Scotland and it will never be tolerated.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe, which is why this government has invested over £20 million this year in projects the length and breadth Scotland to tackle inequality and hate crime and support our diverse communities.

“This country has a long and proud history of building a multi-cultural society through welcoming people of all nationalities, including those seeking refuge and asylum from war and terror elsewhere, and this diversity is Scotland’s strength.”

The conference follows the launch of a new Scottish Government Race Equality Framework designed to eradicate racism amid evidence of racial discrimination in public and private sectors employers.

The report found widespread public concern about the impact of immigration on Scotland’s “identity”, and a disproportionate link between race, poverty and employability.

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