Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill - Equality Impact Assessment

Stage 1: Framing

Results of framing exercise

A number of evidence sources have been considered to help frame this assessment.

Lord Bracadale’s Independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation in Scotland^[4], provided a clear assessment of the existing legislative framework along with both qualitative and quantitative evidence to support his recommendations.

A series of engagement sessions were held in the summer of 2018 with stakeholder groups in response to Lord Bracadale’s report including race equality stakeholders, women’s organisations, age (both children and young people’s and older people’s organisations), disabled people’s organisations, LGBT organisations and faith and belief organisations. These sessions helped inform the development of the public consultation exercise which was launched in November 2018 to seek views on what should be included in the Bill. A series of public awareness events were also undertaken throughout Scotland.

A full analysis report following the consultation was produced and published in June 2019^[5].

To supplement the above, statistics have been collected using publications sourced from the, Equality Evidence Finder^[6], providing valuable information on both  demographics and those most likely to be a victim of an offence (including those aggravated by prejudice). Sources included Developing Information on Hate Crime Recorded by the Police in Scotland^[7], Hate Crime in Scotland 2018-19^[8] recorded by Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2017-18^[9], as well as drawing on findings from national surveys including the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey (SSAS) 2015^[10], the Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2018^[11] and the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2017-2018^[12]. 

Extent/Level of EQIA required

A full EQIA has been carried out.