Achi news desk-
However, he took the opportunity to say that ‘disinformation’ would have been spread by people who opposed the bill regardless of the government’s efforts.
He said: “I accept that the Scottish Government could have done more to inform people about this law as well as our wider approach to tackling hate crime and bigotry.
“However, let’s be clear that even if that government had produced more information dishonest actors intent on spreading misinformation would have done so anyway.”
READ MORE: Hate crime in Scotland falls in second week of new laws
It comes as she also publishes a response to new data released by Police Scotland today regarding the decline in hate crime reports last week.
A total of 1832 hate crimes were recorded in Scotland between 8 April and 14 April. It was a 74.4% reduction on the 7152 hate crimes reported in the first week of the new legislation.
Of the total reports, 213 were recorded as hate crimes in the second week, down from 240 the previous week.
The Justice Secretary has said that around 90 per cent of the reports recorded during the first week were submitted on the first day of the newly introduced legislation.
Ms Constance added that although it was positive news about the sharp drop in hate crime reports, the number of recorded hate crimes had not dropped so sharply, which means there is still plenty of work to be done.
He said: “These statistics show that of the significant number of online hate crime reports made to Police Scotland since 1 April, almost half came in on the day the new legislation started , with the number of daily complaints falling by 90% within the first report. a week.
“These comparative statistics show how vital it is to tackle hate crime and how it is not a new issue for Scotland’s police and justice system.
“Police Scotland has been clear that demand continues to be managed within its contact centers and the impact on frontline policing has been minimal. I want to thank the police staff and officers for their dedication and professionalism in their work as this law comes into force and for everything they do, day in and day out, to keep our communities safe.
“On a visit to Age Scotland’s Ethnic Minority Older People’s Forum, I heard first-hand from those who have direct experience of hate and prejudice about the traumatic impact this can have on their lives. The Hate Crime Act does not prevent people from expressing controversial, challenging or offensive views – nor does it seek to stifle criticism or rigorous debate in any way, while the right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the Act.
“However, it helps tackle the harm caused by hatred and prejudice, and provides greater protection for people in society and communities who face hatred simply because of who they are – and we should all want that.”
Prime Minister Humza Yousaf has joined Ms Constance in her concession over Government communications.
He said “bad faith actors” had lodged “vexatious” complaints in the early days of the Act’s implementation, but told journalists at the STUC Congress in Dundee that the Government would reflect on its communications about the legislation.
“I think they (bad actors) were always going to present some tiresome complaints when the Act first came into force and there is some reflection in the Government that we could have done more in relation to proactive communication, I’ n thought that was a challenge ten years ago. ,” he said.
“But even if we had done all the communications in the world, that wouldn’t have stopped for example … members of the extreme right co-ordinating a campaign to present tiresome complaints, that was always going to reduce, so why the the police have said that there has been very little impact on frontline policing.
“Some of the misinformation, I’m sure, has not been intentional but there has been some.”
