Unconfirmed reports have been received by the Notional that Police Scotland may be backtracking on their implementation of Humza’s Hate Crime law. Despite Police forces in England having been successfully challenged in 2021 after a police officer called Harry Miller to “Check his thinking”, The Scottish Government ignored all warnings and concerns their law would result in similar chilling behaviour by police and subsequent legal challenges.
The Free Speech Union shared yesterday (4th April 2024) ‘According to Humza Yousaf, being interviewed yesterday afternoon, Police Scotland are now “looking at the changes that were made in England and Wales recently [regarding the recording and retention of NCHIs] and reviewing their own procedures in that respect”.’
Scotland can only hope the review results either in repeal of the law, or clarification the Scottish Government promised and never delivered prior to the Hate Crime law’s implementation.