Gay hate crime, including incidents of physical attacks, vandalism and verbal abuse, has almost doubled in Scotland

Gay hate crime, including incidents of physical attacks, vandalism and verbal abuse, has almost doubled in Scotland in just two years according to shocking new figures.

Statistics gathered from a freedom of information request show incidences of anti-gay abuse have almost doubled from 364 to 666 in just two years, while reported crimes have increased by five times in five years from 114 to the current figure, as reported by Scotland on Sunday.

Gay rights group Stonewall believe the figures could be even higher, as 61 per cent of those abused failed to report their incidents, while the organisaton found from its own research that two thirds of gays have been verbally abused over the past year.

Carl Watt, director of Stonewall Scotland, told Scotland on Sunday: “Over a quarter of the people attacked told us they accept abuse and attacks as part of being LGBT in Scotland.

“Having said that we have a strong message from our police forces that crimes committed against people simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity will not be tolerated.”

Ian Latimer, spokesperson on diversity for the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland, reiterated the police’s stance on homophobic attacks. He told Scotland on Sunday: “Hate crime in any form is unacceptable.” While a Scottish Government spokesman stressed to the newspaper: “There is no room for complacency in this fight.” 

Jonny Payne  http://news.pinkpaper.com