Slides from training manuals surrounding the country's new hate crime law were leaked to the news outlet. The slides stated that material regarded as "threatening and abusive" under the Hate Crime and Public Order could come "through public performance of a play."
The new law "consolidates some existing laws and creates a new offence of stirring up hatred against protected characteristics, including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and transgender identity," the Herald states.
In essence, a comedian who says an offensive joke could be investigated by officers if someone reports them, per the leaked slides.
After publication, pictures of the article were captured and shared widely on social media from people outraged at the idea of police deliberately targeting comedians for "hate speech," including from Elon Musk who re-posted the headline from Ian Miles Cheong.
In addition, several Conservative Scottish MSPs publicly criticized the report.
The party's spokesman, Russell Findlay, provided an official statement that said the training was "at odds with the legislation."
MSP Annie Wells took to X to say: "Because of the SNP’s Hate Crime and Public Order Act, officers for Police Scotland are now being instructed to target comedians and actors for anything that might be perceived as 'threatening and abusive.' This endangers free speech for everyone."
https://twiter.com/AnnieWellsMSP/status/1770021534070972852?s=20
In response, the police force released a statement that said: "We are aware of inaccurate media reporting and commentary today, 19 March 2023, about the training material we have in place for the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. Police Scotland is not instructing officers to target actors, comedians, or any other people or groups.
"Our training package has been developed in close consultation with stakeholders to ensure all characteristics protected by legislation under the new Act are clearly represented and articulated, and that officers are best prepared when they respond to hate crimes and incidents.
"The training material was based on the Scottish Government's explanatory notes which accompany the legislation: Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 - Explanatory Notes. This included examples of a range of scenarios where offences might take place, but this does not mean officers have been told to target these situations or locations."
The force’s statement continued: “Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and officers balance the protections people have under human rights legislation against other laws every day.
“Our training for the new Act therefore reminds officers of their human rights obligations and it reflects all aspects of the new legislation, including the protection it includes around freedom of expression.”
