Scottish Police Federation warns that SNP bill could paralyse free speech.

PROPOSED new hate crime legislation in Scotland could “paralyse freedom of speech” and “devastate” the relationship between the public and the police, according to the union representing Scottish police officers. 

In a scathing submission to Members of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Police Federation said the SNP's proposed  Bill was intolerably vague, wide open to abuse, and could infringe people’s human rights. 

The Federation, which represents Police Scotland’s 17,000 frontline officers, said it could not support the Hate Crime & Public Order Bill as drafted.

The Law Society of Scotland also warned this week that the Bill had “major flaws”.

It said: “We have significant reservations regarding a number of the Bill’s provisions and the lack of clarity, which could in effect lead to restrictions in freedom of expression, one of the foundations of a democratic society.”

The proposed legislation has also managed the remarkable double of being opposed by both the Roman Catholic Church and the National Secular Society.


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