Scottish Police Trained To Target Actors And Comedians Under Hate Crime Laws

by Steve Watson

Training materials claim “threatening and abusive” material can be communicated “through public performance”

Police in Scotland are being trained to target actors and comedians under new hate crime laws set to be activated next month, reports The Herald, citing leaked police documents.

Front page of The Herald In Scotland… Report here https://t.co/lplS6NLwQ3 pic.twitter.com/LXJvlSmkrM

— m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) March 19, 2024

Training materials obtained by the outlet state that content deemed to be “threatening and abusive” under the Hate Crime and Public Order can be communicated “through public performance of a play.”

This is a leaked photo of police training materials in Scotland on how to enforce new ‘hate crime’ laws. It basically says anyone posting or sharing or even performing anything deemed to be offensive can be targeted. Report here: https://t.co/lplS6NLwQ3 pic.twitter.com/8HiGkojus0

— m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) March 19, 2024

A slide from the leaked training material titled “stirring up hatred” also lists ‘protected’ characteristics including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.

In other words, under First Minister Humza Yousaf’s new law, any performer who for example ‘misgenders’ trans people, jokes about race or religion, or even criticises migrants can potentially be prosecuted.

The training material further states that even those forwarding or sharing material deemed to be ‘hateful’ can also be targeted under the law.