Home > Our Work > Legislation >
Hate crime is the phrase used to describe behaviour which is both criminal and based on prejudice. There are already laws in place to protect certain groups, including trans people, from hate crime. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill updates these existing laws and pulls most of these laws into one Bill. It also adds to the groups currently specifically protected by hate crime laws. The Bill creates a new crime of stirring up hatred against any of the protected groups covered by the Bill.
23 April 2020 = Introduced in the Scottish Parliament.
15 December 2020 = Stage One completed.
16 February 2021 = Stage Two completed.
22 February 2021 = Justice Committee held an additional roundtable to discuss Freedom of Expression potential amendments.
Read about the bill’s progress.
Read the bill as amended at stage 2
Read about four possible options for a Freedom of Expression amendment at Stage Three.
10 March 2021 = The Scottish Parliament debated Stage 3 Amendments to the Bill
Read the bill as amended at stage 3
11 March 2021 = The Scottish Parliament passed the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill
Our Stage One written submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee.
Our 17 November 2020 oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee.
Our Facebook thread explainer on some of the conversations about Freedom of Expression and the bill.
Our Stage Two briefing for MSPs.
Our submission on four options for a Stage Three freedom of expression amendment proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.
Our Stage Three briefing for MSPs
30 Bernard Street Edinburgh EH6 6PR
+44 (0)131 467 6039 info@scottishtrans.org
Scottish Trans is part of the Equality Network
Scottish Trans is the Equality Network project to improve gender identity and gender reassignment equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland. The Equality Network is a leading Scottish lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights charity.
The Equality Network is a registered Scottish charity: SC037852, and a company limited by guarantee: SC220213.
We are grateful for funding from the Scottish Government
