Teh One Who Knocks
01-30-2017, 01:43 PM
By Kieran Corcoran - Heat Street
http://i.imgur.com/GX4lsGzh.jpg
It could become a hate crime to hit on women too aggressively under news laws being considered by the government of Scotland.
One proposal being considered in a major review, led by a prominent judge, is that women be included as a potential new category of victim.
Measures introduced elsewhere have had such broad definitions that any “uninvited” interaction – even a text message – can be considered worthy of police attention.
Police in the English county of Nottinghamshire invoked the new definition in 2016, sparking widespread concern that seemingly trivial interactions like wolf-whistling were being outlawed.
However, a Heat Street investigation found that it did not lead to a significant change in the number of hate crimes recorded – suggesting misogyny was not a major issue.
Currently the only eligible categories are race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and whether or not you’re transgender.
The review was announced last week by Scottish Government officials, and is set to last a year.
Lord Bracadale, one of the most senior judges in Scotland, will be in charge of the review. Scotland has a separate legal system to the rest of the UK.
He said: “Hate crime legislation has developed intermittently over many years and it is important to consider whether it currently provides appropriate, effective and consistent protection for Scottish communities.”
Hate crime reporting has come under some scrutiny in recent months in the UK.
A speech by Amber Rudd, the politician in charge of the British immigration system, was recorded as a “hate incident” after a professor objected and reported it to police.
http://i.imgur.com/GX4lsGzh.jpg
It could become a hate crime to hit on women too aggressively under news laws being considered by the government of Scotland.
One proposal being considered in a major review, led by a prominent judge, is that women be included as a potential new category of victim.
Measures introduced elsewhere have had such broad definitions that any “uninvited” interaction – even a text message – can be considered worthy of police attention.
Police in the English county of Nottinghamshire invoked the new definition in 2016, sparking widespread concern that seemingly trivial interactions like wolf-whistling were being outlawed.
However, a Heat Street investigation found that it did not lead to a significant change in the number of hate crimes recorded – suggesting misogyny was not a major issue.
Currently the only eligible categories are race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and whether or not you’re transgender.
The review was announced last week by Scottish Government officials, and is set to last a year.
Lord Bracadale, one of the most senior judges in Scotland, will be in charge of the review. Scotland has a separate legal system to the rest of the UK.
He said: “Hate crime legislation has developed intermittently over many years and it is important to consider whether it currently provides appropriate, effective and consistent protection for Scottish communities.”
Hate crime reporting has come under some scrutiny in recent months in the UK.
A speech by Amber Rudd, the politician in charge of the British immigration system, was recorded as a “hate incident” after a professor objected and reported it to police.