What do we mean by hate crime legislation and why does it exist?
Should we have specific hate crime legislation?
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Yes
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No
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Don't know
Please give reasons for your answer.
Surely all crime is actually 'hate crime' since the perpetrator does not care about the victim?
Can it always be proved what the aim and purpose of the perpetrator is? Could someone take offence at a reply that they have solicited (knowing full well what that reply would be) intentionally to give them cause to raise a complaint?
There is a real need to ensure that such laws are not used to simply pander to what is 'politically correct' (since this may not be the case in (for example) five or ten year's time).
Can it always be proved what the aim and purpose of the perpetrator is? Could someone take offence at a reply that they have solicited (knowing full well what that reply would be) intentionally to give them cause to raise a complaint?
There is a real need to ensure that such laws are not used to simply pander to what is 'politically correct' (since this may not be the case in (for example) five or ten year's time).
Standalone offence: section 50A Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995: racially aggravated harassment and conduct
Should the concept of a standalone charge be extended to other characteristics?
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Yes
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No
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Don't know
If so, which groups? Please give reasons for your answer.
One cannot change one's race. However, someone 'may' (for example) change their religion. In such cases, one's religiously held beliefs (which may be quite innocuously held) might case offence - genuine freedom of speech may end up with it's head on the chopping block!
Who decides when the threshold of what is classed as causing 'alarm or distress' is breached? Some hypersensitive individual who is on a mission to attack any and everyone who does not 100% agree with their position(s)?
Who decides when the threshold of what is classed as causing 'alarm or distress' is breached? Some hypersensitive individual who is on a mission to attack any and everyone who does not 100% agree with their position(s)?
Stirring up hatred and online hate crime
Should there be offences relating to the stirring up of hatred against groups?
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Yes
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No
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Don't know
If so, which groups? Please give reasons for your answer.
As I mentioned in a response elsewhere, and since the term 'hatred' is not an objective one, who decides when a comment made is deemed to be motivated by hatred? This could be true for any 'group' of people.
The potential for genuine freedom of speech to be eroded is extremely high.
The potential for genuine freedom of speech to be eroded is extremely high.
About You
What is your name?
Name
Steve Rawbone
Are you responding as an individual or an organisation?
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Individual
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Organisation