A bill to strengthen laws on hate crimes against gay or disabled people in Scotland is to be brought forward.
The proposal, by Green MSP Patrick Harvie, would make attacking someone because of their sexual orientation or their disability an aggravating factor.

This would put such assaults on the same legal footing as racist attacks and religiously-aggravated assaults.

Scottish ministers said they were committed to introducing measures and would hold talks on the way forward.

Mr Harvie has lodged a draft proposal for the bill, ahead of discussions with the Scottish Government on how best to deal with the issue.

A survey in 2004 found that 47% of disabled people had experienced hate crime because of their disability, with 31% of those reporting that they suffered verbal abuse, intimidation or physical attacks at least once a month.

"Disabled people and sexual minorities deserve no less protection from prejudice and bigotry" Patrick Harvie Scottish Green Party

Research into attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people carried out in 2002 found 68% had been verbally abused in the last year, while 23% had been physically assaulted.

Mr Harvie, a Glasgow MSP, said he was "deeply disappointed" that the previous Holyrood government decided not to press ahead with the legal changes, which have been backed by Scots police chiefs.

"We know that the hate crime laws which protect religious groups and minority ethnic communities are useful not only in individual cases, but also in focusing police attention on the problem," he said.

"Disabled people and sexual minorities deserve no less protection from prejudice and bigotry."

'Greater protection'

Lothian and Borders Police Assistant Chief Constable Neil Richardson said all crime motivated by hate was "utterly intolerable".

"This addition to the legislation will send a clear message of support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and should assist in giving increased confidence to those who are, or become, victims of homophobic or transphobic crimes to report the circumstances to the police," he said.

Insp David Lyle, Scottish co-ordinator of the Gay Police Association, added: "The effects of such abhorrent crimes on people's lives can be devastating and it is absolutely right that the full power of the law should be brought to bear on those who commit them."

The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) has campaigned for hate crime legislation to be extended to cover disability.

Charlie McMillan, the organisation's director of research influence and change, said: "We welcome moves to offer greater protection to people with mental health problems and other disabilities, who experience harassment all too often.

Tim Hopkins, from the Equality Network, which speaks on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, added there were too many hate crimes in Scotland.

Courtesy of the BBC