Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 12 April 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with Lord Bracadale’s review of hate crime legislation, and how people can take part in the process.
I am delighted that Lord Bracadale is making good progress with his review. He has today published material at www.hatecrimelegislationreview.scot which sets out the process he will follow, the key timescales, the composition of his reference group and how he plans to hear from those who have experienced hate crime and from those who apply the law as it currently stands.
Lord Bracadale wants to make this process as accessible as possible and there will be a range of options through which people can participate and engage with the review. Lord Bracadale is meeting with a wide range of interested parties to gather information and evidence about how hate crime is understood, what its impact is, and how effectively the current law deals with it. He is also inviting people to submit their experiences in confidence via a questionnaire. The views and issues expressed in the questionnaire will enable Lord Bracadale to make his consultation paper, which will be available in the summer, as relevant and informed as possible. Public events across Scotland are planned during the consultation exercise to encourage participation. More information about ways to engage with the review can obtained from Lord Bracadale’s team: [email protected]