Number of online hate reports drops almost 75% in second week

The number of online hate reports has dropped almost 75% in the second week since the introduction of the Hate Crime Act on April 1.

Data released by Police Scotland shows there were 1,832 online hate reports received between April 8 and April 14, down from 7,152 the previous week.

The force judged that the vast majority of reports did not require any further action.

There were 213 hate crimes recorded in the same period, down from 240 the previous week.

Police also recorded 25 non-crime hate incidents, five fewer than during the first week of the controversial new law.

The force said the reports continue to be managed within its contact centres with “minimal impact on frontline policing”.

The Scottish Government’s Hate Crime and Pubilc Order Act came into force at the start of the month, sparking a sharp rise in the number of hate complaints.

It takes existing laws around the stirring up of hatred on the basis of race and extends that to other groups, including transgender and disabled people.

Just 3% of the more than 7,000 hate complaints reported to Police Scotland the first week of controversial new hate legislation coming into force were found to be a crime.