Crimes committed against people because of their age will attract harsher sentences, if a new Bill in Scotland is passed.
At the moment, only racially motivated crimes result in tougher sentencing, but a new law would extend it to other protected characteristics.
Hate crimes
If passed by Parliament, the Bill would provide for new “stirring up” of hatred offences that would apply to all characteristics listed in the Bill. These characteristics are age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics.
Age Scotland was at the forefront of calls to include the age as one of those protected by the Hate Crime Bill. Offences against older people are “all too common” according to Chief executive Brian Sloan.
The draft bill - which was introduced in April - has been welcomed by many. It comes after a review of hate crime legislation by Lord Bracadale. He recommended age and gender should be incorporated into law.
“It sends a strong message that age discrimination is never acceptable in our society.”
“This new Hate Crime Bill is an important milestone. By creating robust laws for the justice system, Parliament will send a strong message to victims, perpetrators, communities and to wider society that offences motivated by prejudice will be treated seriously and will not be tolerated.”
“We believe the Bill will make it clear that communicating offensive views to stir up hatred is not acceptable in Scotland and sends a message to victims, perpetrators and wider society that such behaviour won’t be tolerated.”
“We also welcome that more groups will now have fuller protection under the law, to live their lives free from abusive or threatening behaviours on the basis of their identity”
Criminal sanctions for discrimination do not exist in the UK. But in other countries, they can be common. We discuss whether this is a measure that policymakers in the UK should think about, and discuss about age-based hate crimes.