Hate crime complaints soar to nearly 8,000 – As Police braced for thousands MORE after ‘explosive’ Rangers v Celtic football match

Hate crime complaints soar to nearly 8,000 – As Police braced for thousands MORE after ‘explosive’ Rangers v Celtic football match

According to The Mail on Sunday, police have received nearly 8,000 complaints since Humza Yousaf’s shambolic hate crime law was implemented.

Control room officials are struggling to keep up with the backlog – the equivalent of one complaint every MINUTE – and are expecting many more reports after today’s Old Firm match.

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF),

said: “It is a disaster, and officers are swamped with complaints.”

Legal experts are concerned that sectarian shouts and songs,

which are frequently heard during highly charged Rangers-Celtic matches, may violate the law.

Former Scotland great Ally McCoist created controversy last week when he ‘assured’ that he,

along with 48,000 other fans, ‘will be committing a breach of that hate Bill in the Rangers against Celtic game’.

He has since stated that he will no longer attend the match.

Murdo Fraser, a Tory MSP, cautioned Wednesday that football fans may file complaints merely because they detest rival followers,

rather than because a crime was committed.

Last Monday, free speech campaigners fired a new salvo at the Scottish Government’s legislation,

promising to defend anyone punished under it in court.

The law, which went into effect at the beginning of last week,

creates a felony of’stirring up hatred’ based on age, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or sex traits.

The nearly 8,000 reports logged thus far follow Mr Yousaf’s statement on Monday that there was ‘no evidence’ to justify predictions that it would result in a swarm of vexatious complaints.

In an embarrassing U-turn, he later admitted he was ‘concerned’ about reports of a large volume of complaints. Thousands more are expected as a result of today’s game.

Mr Kennedy stated: “Officers are advised to police the game as usual,

with warnings issued where appropriate.” If someone commits a breach of the peace,

whether sectarian or not, they can be arrested as they would have been before the Hate Crime Act was passed.

‘The main issue with this new legislation is reporting figures, particularly online reporting.’

SkySports will strive to mute any inappropriate songs or language on live TV tonight, as it has always done.

Mr Yousaf yesterday told The Mail on Sunday that such decisions were up to the broadcaster,

but added: ‘I don’t want to hear that. People are sick of hearing abusive slogans.

It is not the majority of supporters; it is a minority, but we do not want to hear that.

His Community Safety Minister, Siobhian Brown, claimed Wednesday that she did not expect a wave of complaints following the match,

saying, “Old Firm games have been going on for many years.”

‘I have faith in Police Scotland, and I don’t see why someone would want to go in and incite hatred.

When asked if the Act was worth the paper it was written on, she said that it was there to ‘defend’ people.

The Free Speech Union has established a ‘free speech hotline’ for anyone affected by the legislation,

as well as an agreement with a law firm to assist with legal representation.

Meanwhile, a former police officer who won a landmark free speech case in England has pledged to defend those accused under Mr Yousaf’s hate crime legislation north of the border.

Harry Miller, 59, was accused of a non-criminal ‘hate incident’ by police in 2019 after tweeting about transgender individuals,

but the charge was overturned because it violated his right to free expression.

The Lincolnshire-based campaigner has stated that he will ‘go to court’ with anyone accused under Scotland’s new legislation to help them defend themselves.

Within hours of the law’s implementation, a stream of objections were received over Mr Yousaf’s remarks about a number of significant leaders in Scotland being white. No  action was taken.

Ms Brown has admitted a ‘fake’ complaint was filed about her – but no hate incident was recorded.

However, Mr Fraser’s previous complaint regarding a tweet remains on the police system.

Mr Kennedy claimed the hate statute has already had a disastrous impact on officers,

who were forced to work overtime to keep up with their tremendous workload.

He stated that despite the increased workload, the Scottish Government has not provided any additional cash,

so officials are just swamped.

‘While the vast majority of complaints will be categorized as “no further action”,

each must be thoroughly verified and assessed, which consumes resources that could be employed elsewhere.

‘Officers are overwhelmed with work, and the situation is a disaster.’

It is believed that dozens of policemen are paid overtime every day to cope with the backlog of complaints and sort through all of the reports received.

Mr Kennedy’s colleague, David Threadgold, chair of the Scottish Police Federation,

has stated that the force may have to sacrifice other services to reallocate officers to work on hate crime reports.

Mr Yousaf asked people yesterday not to make irritating complaints.

He went on to say, ‘Frankly, you’re doing nothing but wasting your own and the officers’ time.

Get more related news on:https://sportviewers.com