Hate crime law consultation: easy read version

Hate Crime Law Questions

Question 1.
Do you think we should have Hate Crime Law?
Tick one box.

Yes
No
Not sure

Question 2.
Please tell us why?
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New Statutory Aggravations

Gender
The Scottish Government wants to know if there should be other groups added to hate crime law.

Just now, hate crime law only covers

• Race
• Religion
• Disability
• Sexual Orientation
• Transgender Identity

The Scottish Government is thinking of adding Gender to hate crime law. This would mean any crime motivated by Gender would be a hate crime.

Question 3.
Do you think Gender should be added to Hate Crime Law?
Tick one box.

Yes
No
Not sure

Question 4.
Please tell us why?
Write in here:

Age
The Scottish Government wants to know if there should be other groups added to hate crime law.

Just now, hate crime law only covers

• Race
• Religion
• Disability
• Sexual Orientation
• Transgender Identity

The Scottish Government is thinking of adding Age to hate crime law. This would mean any crime motivated by Age would be a hate crime.

Question 4.
Do you think Age should be added to Hate Crime Law?
Tick one box.

Yes
No
Not sure

Question 5.
Please tell us why?
Write in here:

Question 6.
Do you think any other groups should be added to Hate Crime Law?
Tick one box.

Yes
No
Not sure

Question 7.
Tell us here which other groups should be added to Hate Crime Law
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Association with Members of a Protected Group

If a person has committed a crime and has done it because of hate or prejudice against an individual or groups because of their characteristic. This is a hate crime.

Even if the victim does not have the characteristic, but the person thinks they do, then this is still a hate crime.

The Scottish Government want to make it a hate crime, even if a person is targeted because they are linked to a certain group. For example, a person is attacked because someone thinks they are gay, or a parent is attacked because they are with their disabled child.

Question 8.
Do you think the aggravations in Hate Crime Law should apply where people are thought to have a protected characteristic (e.g. Someone thinks you're gay, but you're not).
Tick one box.

Yes
No
Not sure

Question 9.
Please tell us why?
Write in here:

Question 10.
Do you think the aggravations in Hate Crime Law should apply where people are linked to a protected characteristic (for example, you are the parent of a disabled child).
Tick one box.

Yes
No
Not sure

Question 11.
Please tell us why?
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Online Hate

Laws that apply to hate crimes committed in person also apply to online hate crime.

Online hate crime can include:

• online abuse, including verbal and emotional abuse
• offensive literature and websites
• abusive private messages and hate mail; and
• online bullying

The Scottish Government think that if you commit a crime online, it should be an aggravated offence'.

Question 12.
Do you think new laws are needed that protect people from online hate crime?
Tick one box.

Yes
No
Not sure

Question 13.
Do you have any comments about online hate crime?
Write in here: