Scottish women - speak up now while you still can.

[ArabeIIaScott]

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/police-scotland-set-up-new-30983808

'Police Scotland is setting up a dedicated hate crime unit ahead of Humza Yousaf's hugely controversial new laws coming into force early next year, it can be revealed.
The unit is expected to go live in November and training of the force's 16,400 officers gets underway in December in preparation for the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act being implemented in early 2024. The legislation consolidates existing law and extends protection for vulnerable groups with a new offence of "stirring up hatred".
Under the Act, offences are considered "aggravated" – which could influence sentencing – if they involve prejudice on the basis of age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or variations in sex characteristics. Critics fear a disproportionate amount of police time will be diverted into policing toxic gender culture wars, with an over emphasis on "pursuing hurtful words but not violent conduct".
They claim the new laws will also have a "chilling effect" on free speech and warn that campaigners supporting women's rights may find themselves facing accusations of transphobia. Helen Joyce, director of advocacy with human rights group Sex Matters, said: "The establishment of a new, dedicated hate crime unit at Police Scotland sends a sinister message to those who advocate for women's and children's rights.'

Jesus what a mess. Tiny pond is right. It allows these no mark fuds to rise to the top and then you get, well, this

Presumably JKR will be committing an offence the moment she opens her eyes mouth on the day this comes into force - we all know what she thinks…

Take very good care those of you in Scotland, you might already be known for not believing TWAW 💐

Seen the latest shite from Scottish Women's Aid? They are invoking an occupational requirement that allows for applications to only be considered from those who have a protected characteristic relating to sex -
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/16/26/1?view=plain

While simultaneously welcoming applications from males who believe they are women.

Well, that's the last time I donate to SWA.

The trouble is, they do great work on the ground. It's the high heed yins that are the gaslighting horrors.

They seem to have a problem understanding the meaning of words. A 'woman with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment' is actually a transman but they mean a transwoman.

Just putting this here as it's a very relevant, and interesting discussion and explanation about the current introduction (and historical context) of hate crime laws.

https://spotify.link/i7PDXUlGiDb

So if I've understood correctly, when you say women weren't included it's because the 'protected characteristics' are as per the below, i.e. don't include sex, is that right? These really are the most upside down times, and this never fails to make my blood boil.

age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or variations in sex characteristics

While it is accepted that not every hate report will amount to criminality, officers are required to take preventative and protective measures even when a non-criminal offence is apparent

This is so chilling. 'Preventative' measures for non-crimes. Thought police.

Yes.

They have made provision for potentially including 'sex' in future.

However women's groups have expressed concern at this.

Yes.

So the police don't turn out for shoplifting, ignore physical attacks by men on women (especially GC ones, quelle surprise), refuse to follow up burglaries even when the victim has evidence of the perpetrators (as per numerous stories on here), but are going after thought crimes. Or what they think are thought crimes.

"hate crime such as misgendering"

FFS, I'm going to sound like an aging Tory here, but get back to solving actual crimes and protecting the public please.

Good grief.

but get back to solving actual crimes and protecting the public please

Believe me there's nothing the cops on the street would like more

This is absolute nonsense. I’m so annoyed my tax money is being spent this way. I’ve written to my MSP before about gender stuff and felt utterly dismissed. Is there anything we can do? Any groups protesting this I can join/donate to?

The wording is beyond sinister. I work in a related area and police response times to issues of violence and property damage are not great, why would they spend their time policing non-crimes.

It’s horrifying, it really is.

All I can think of, if a T/MRA targets you and the police get involved can you not claim it's hate directed against you because you are a transman or non-binary? I wonder how the police would cope with masses of women claiming that. Might be the only way to shut down this stupid, ill thought out legislation.

I'm not sure what actions can be taken now.

I used to write to MPs and MSPs, but SNP and Greens seem utterly pointless, they don't even respond to me most of the time and when they do they make it clear they don't give a fuck. Labour and Libdems are equally rubbish.

Perhaps joining the Free Speech Union is a start.

Sorting out one' cybersecurity is another thing. A VPN is a start. Try and tidy up social media and keep it locked down as much as possible.

The other possibility and perhaps the more effective one is to make full use of the law. Report every instance of a potential hate act anyone has ever done. This can mean anything and you don't need to be the person who is the alleged victim.

The drawback of this of course is that it will occupy a police force that is already over stretched.

Claiming a non binary identity may be worth doing. It will provide a modicum of protection and requires no action.

This is exactly the sort of thing that drives contempt of the law and of government. Since we currently have a democracy, perhaps it's all a cunning plan to persuade us to welcome a dictatorship as a better option.

In all honesty I would welcome undoing devolution right now.

The point of more autonomy and independence was supposed to mean we were better able to self govern; it wasn't supposed to create a mini gulag run by criminals and misogynists.

I used to be fully pro-independence. Brexit, and seeing what happened in NI, moved my position - I want to be back in the EU, but having separate trade regulations from England could be very damaging.

But it was the GRR bill that totally wiped it out for me.

I voted for Independence in 2014.

Would I now?

Would I fuck.

I even wrote to Alastair Jack requesting him to invoke Section 35.

The fact that there are reserved issues which the criminals and misogynists running this country cannot influence and there are checks stopping them doing even more damage is the only thing stopping from dropping me into despair.

And I can't believe I'm saying that. 10 years ago I would have absolutely laughed in your face to think I'd ever say that.

But here we are.

Claiming a non binary identity may be worth doing. It will provide a modicum of protection and requires no action.
Channel the inner Pip Bunce(?) and be both, depending on what day it is. I doubt he did anything administrative wise to prove who he was so why should any targeted women. Most women wear trousers, flat shoes and no makeup once in a while. Good for the goose...

Well the next Holyrood Election is not until May 2026 so we are stuck with the SNP until then whatever we think about their awful policies.

Mad. Absolutely mad.

How much is being spent on this vanity project? And what needs are going unmet in order to fund it?

And when will Kim Jong Un be turning up for a visit, as gosh suddenly Scotland and North Korea have quite a lot in common. I wonder where they're going to stick the POW camps for all the women? They will after all be political prisoners. You could get the women all doing laundry to keep them occupied and bring in a bit of extra cash while they're locked up for heresy and sin. I think Ireland has the blueprint.

Me too. Tony Blair's biggest mistake among many and I used to be a Labour Party member. He should have gone for PR for the UK instead although I am not sure I like that as much as I thought I did.

People are going to have to prioritise 'free speech' with their votes which in the current climate means Scottish Conservative. Scottish Labour agree with the SNP on everything except Independence and are just as bad on gender and women's rights.