COPS have solved more than 2,000 alleged hate crimes since the SNP’s introduction of a controversial new law, it emerged last night.
New figures obtained by the Scottish Sun show officers logged more than 3,600 crimes since the Hate Crime Act came into force at the start of April.
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And 2,176 cases have so far been “detected”, meaning police think they have enough evidence to charge an individual. Of these, most – 636 instances – took place in May.
Critics said the figures underlined the burden on police due to the “flawed” new law, and the legislation was the “last thing overstretched police officers need to be doing”.
Scottish Tory deputy justice spokesperson, Sharon Dowey, said: “Savage SNP cuts are already hitting frontline policing without officers’ attention being diverted to dealing with these complaints.
“The Scottish Conservatives were the only party who opposed this legislation and continue to call for the SNP to scrap it.”
The police figures – which include offences under the new law, and pre-existing law – emerged after officers were bombarded with nearly 10,000 complaints under the new act within the first 30 days of the law coming into force.
The act extended a previous stirring up hatred offence which only applied to race to other protected characteristics of age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics.
Cops said the new figures included offences such as racially aggravated harassment as well as the stirring-up hatred crimes.
Separate Crown Office figures showed the new laws have seen just 468 charges reported to the Crown Office and just 42 convictions up to the end of August this year.
Of those, 329 cases have made it to court – with 255 summary cases and 16 solemn cases still ongoing.
Only one fine for a hate crime has been issued, with prosecutors using powers allowing them to divert offenders from court 17 times since the new law was introduced.
In total, there have been 42 convictions under the legislation, with 15 acquittals.
The legislation sparked a backlash by critics who say it poses a risk to freedom of speech.
And feminist campaigners allege the new laws could stifle debate about transgender rights and women’s rights and clamp down on criticism of the push for gender self-ID.
Ex-First Minister Humza Yousaf – who pushed through the bill as justice secretary – also faced attacks from high profile opponents of the law like Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Twitter/X owner, Elon Musk.
Scottish Lib Dem justice spokesman Liam McArthur called for the Hate Crime Act to be “properly reviewed” after it has “had time to bed in”.
He added: “We need to know that it is working as intended and that it provides the police with the tools they need without smothering free speech.
“Tackling hate in our society is as much about a cultural shift as it is about legislation so public figures like politicians also need to lead by example and work with communities to make that happen.”
