In the first month following the introduction of Scotland’s new Hate Crime Act on April 1, over 500 individuals were charged out of 9,529 reports received. The Act, which includes a new offence of “stirring up hatred” based on age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or being intersex, resulted in 887 incidents being classified as hate crimes, and 503 cases saw charges brought against individuals.

Critics had warned that the law might be misused, leading to a flood of reports, many of which were anonymous.

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay criticised the law, claiming it caused confusion and put undue strain on police resources.

David Threadgold, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, echoed these concerns, noting that the law’s introduction was rushed, training was inadequate, and many complaints were made for personal or political reasons rather than legitimate reasons.

Opponents, including the Free to Disagree campaign, argue the law increases bureaucracy, forces police into public debates, and leads to self-censorship among the public. Police Scotland acknowledged the challenges and indicated that the courts would face difficulties as they adapt to the new legislation.