Scotland's first scheme to stamp out juvenile hate crime launched | News | Edinburgh | STV

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Scotland's first scheme to stamp out juvenile hate crime launched


Celebrity chef Tony Singh got behind the Lothian and Borders Police project.


The first police project in Scotland to tackle hate crimes committed by young people has been launched by Lothian and Borders Police in Edinburgh.


On Monday, celebrity chef, Tony Singh was in Leith - one of the most culturally diverse areas of the capital - to support the juvenile hate crime scheme that aims to stamp out crimes motivated by prejudice against race, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and transgender people.


The scheme uses Restorative Justice Meetings where offenders meet their victim in a safe, structured and neutral environment where the young person will explain why they did what they did and listen to their victim tell them how it impacted their life and what they can do to repair the damage.


A report by the Home Office indicates that 80% of offenders would be less likely to offend after restorative justice meetings, 90% of victims receive an appology and 78% of victims would recommend the process.


Deputy Chief Constable Steve Allan said: “I’m delighted that we’re launching this innovative scheme that will give victims an alternative in their search for a sense of justice.


"This puts power back in the hands of the victims of hate crime. We know that hate crimes in all forms are caustic for families and communities.


"This year we have recorded 14,000 hate crimes. This is not the type of offence that happens sporadically. It is all day every day.


"Over this weekend alone there have been 14 hate crimes."


"It is sometimes thought that restorative justice is a soft option but I don’t think it is any less soft to have the offender look into the whites of their victim's eyes and explain why they did it and what their thought process was.


"The victim also has the opportunity to them that person how they feel and how the impact of that offence carried on everyday in their lives.”


Cara Spence, LGBT Scotland Schools Development Manager, said: "Many young people experience Hate Crime in their schools, local communities and even online specifically because of negative attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people. These crimes often go unreported as young people are scared they will be 'outed' or because they think it won't be taken seriously by an adult.


"LGBT Youth Scotland believes that young people should be supported so that they feel able to come forward and speak to an adult if they feel a crime is being committed against them, if they are being bullied, or are worried or scared about any issue.”


River Song, 17, is gay and two years ago he was attacked and his nose broken because of his sexuality. He now volunteers for the National Youth Council for the charity Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Scotland.


He said: “I was told not to have contact with this person. Nothing was done about it.


“I think it would have helped if I could have talked to him, I don’t know why he did it. I don’t know if it was because of the area we lived in or because he didn’t know much about being gay.


“I would have liked the opportunity to explain.


LGBT National Youth Council has created a small information booklet ‘Hate Crime: A Pocket Guide’ which gives information about hate crimes and how young people can report it.


Tony Singh said: “The thing is, more often than not, Hate Crime is caused by ignorance – especially with young people, who may not realise the full scope of hurt and damage they cause.


“Perhaps people don’t understand another culture or someone’s sexuality but education could help break that cycle of ignorance.”