Source: BBC News and Glasgow Evening Times
HATE crime laws in Scotland are to be strengthened to include people targeted because of disabilities or their sexual orientation.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced today the Scottish Government would back a Bill proposed by Glasgow Green MSP Patrick Harvie."

Mr Harvie said, "For too long our justice system has been oblivious to the motivation behind hate crimes against these groups.

"These proposals, if Parliament backs them, will mean these divisive and scarring crimes are deterred more effectively and taken more seriously, just as racially motivated attacks already are."

The proposals should win the approval of parliament with the backing of the Liberal Democrats, bringing Scotland into line with the rest of the UK.

The bill has also been backed by the Scottish human rights commissioner, the Equality Network, the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and a number of Labour MSPs.

But the Tories criticised the move, saying it would make "some more equal than others" in the eyes of the law.

Mr Harvie's Sentencing of Offences Aggravated by Prejudice (Scotland) Bill will be taken forward in early 2008.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said no-one should be targeted because of their sexual orientation or disability, adding, "While good government needs a clear vision, we must also deal decisively with immediate problems.

"To do otherwise would compromise public safety."

The bill, he added, would allow records of such incidents to be kept for the first time, ensuring that the progress on reducing attacks could be monitored.

"We want to see a Scotland where these offences are made a thing of the past and where all Scots are treated with dignity and respect," said Mr Harvie.

Conservative justice spokesman Bill Aitken said attacks on gay people were serious issues already recognised by judges and sheriffs.

"In Scotland, we pride ourselves in the fact that we are all equal in the eyes of the law but some it now seems are more equal than others, which cannot be right," he said. 

Tim Hopkins, policy and legislation worker for the Equality Network, claimed one in four gays have been victims of homophobic violence and two in three had been threatened or harassed.

Racial or religiously motivated crimes are already regarded as aggravated crimes and the courts are required to take that into account when sentencing offenders.

Full article: BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Ministers back gay hate crime law
Hate crime laws to be tightened | Glasgow Evening Times