NEW, CONTROVERSIAL HATE CRIME LAWS WILL GO INTO EFFECT APRIL FIRST IN SCOTLAND.

THEIR PURPOSE IS TO BETTER PROTECT PEOPLE FROM HATEFUL SPEECH –

INCLUDING ONLINE.

BUT CRITICS OF THE LAW SAY IT INFRINGES ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

THE LAW WILL CRIMINALIZE “THREATENING OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR WHICH IS INTENDED TO STIR UP HATE AGAINST SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND TRANSGENDER IDENTITY.”

THE HATE CRIME CAN BE VERBAL. PHYSICAL. OR DIGITAL – MEANING HATE SPEECH ONLINE WOULD BE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

SCOTLAND POLICE RELEASING THIS VIDEO AHEAD OF THE LAW TAKING PLACE –

REMINDING PEOPLE TO KEEP “THE HATE MONSTER” AT BAY OR PAY THE PRICE.

SCOTLAND AUTHORITIES HAVE PLEDGED THE HATE CRIME LAWS WILL BE ENFORCED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT.

POLICE SAY THEY’LL INVESTIGATE “EVERY COMPLAINT IT RECEIVES.”

AND ALLEGATIONS CAN BE MADE ANONYMOUSLY TOO.

ONE COMPLAINT HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED AHEAD OF THE LAW GOING INTO EFFECT IN TWO WEEKS.

IT WAS AGAINST J.K. ROWLING – THE AUTHOR OF HARRY POTTER – WHO HAS BEEN VOCAL IN HER CRITICISM OF THE TRANSGENDER MOVEMENT.

ROWLING CALLED TRANSGENDER T.V. BROADCASTER “INDIA WILLOUGHBY” A “MAN” WHEN THE BROADCASTER IDENTIFIES AS A WOMAN.

ROWLING SAID IN A POST ON X.

QUOTE – “If you genuinely imagine I’d delete posts calling a man a man, so as not to be prosecuted under this ludicrous law, stand by for the mother of all April Fools’ jokes.”

LOCAL POLICE SAY ROWLING’S COMMENTS DIDN’T “meet the criminal threshold” FOR PROSECUTION.

WILLOUGHBY POSTED – The law is absolutely on my side – but it has been so disappointing to see the police refusing to prosecute fully. I suspect because it’s JK Rowling, and the Home Secretary and Daily Mail would be calling for their heads. Power made them bottle it.”

ENFORCING THE NEW HATE CRIME LAWS HAS BEEN A CONCERN FROM THE START.

“THE SCOTTISH POLICE FEDERATION” WHICH IS THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS POLICE OFFICERS – CALLED IT “A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.”

SAYING POLICE ARE ALREADY OVERWHELMED EVEN BEFORE THE NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT.

THE TRAINING WAS VAGUE ACCORDING TO THE UNION SPOKESPERSON.

AND THEY WORRY ONLINE INSULTS WILL FLOOD THEIR PHONE LINES.