PEOPLE who experience or witness hate crime are being encouraged to report all incidents as part of the new Speak Up Against Hate Crime campaign from the Scottish Government.

Superintendent Gavin Phillip, Police Scotland, said, “Police Scotland treat hate crime as a high priority and would urge any victim or witness to report it to allow us to thoroughly investigate and deal robustly with offenders. We recognise the impact hate crime can have on individuals, families and communities and will treat each case sensitively, using specialist officers and services where appropriate. Police Scotland also recognises that in some cases victims or witnesses of hate crime don’t feel confident reporting the matter directly to the police and may be more comfortable reporting to a person or organisation they are familiar with. There are a variety of third-party organisations that work in partnership with Police Scotland to receive reports of hate crime on their behalf.” Incidents of hate crime can include habitual taunting, vandalism, online bullying and physical violence – but reporting it is making a big difference.

The Scottish Government firmly believes that hate crime is unacceptable and that everyone deserves to be treated fairly, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity/reassignment, race, religion/belief or sexual orientation. To report incidents of hate crime you can: Phone the police on dialling 101 or 999 in an emergency; report in person at any police office; complete a Hate Crime Reporting Form online; or use a third-party reporting site.