By Denny Macgee
School pupils can learn about the fight against hate crime thanks to an innovative online programme.
Paisley charity I Am Me Scotland has worked with Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on You Judge.
Aimed at students and young people aged from S3 upwards, You Judge is designed to raise awareness of hate crimes and the potentially life-changing damage they can cause to victims, their families and friends, the wider community and to the perpetrators themselves.
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The online lesson uses facts from real life incidents as the basis for five short films, setting the scene of the initial incident, before moving onto police involvement and then into the courtroom and sentencing process, with the judge, in his summing up in each case commenting “Ignoring hate crime is never an option.”
The interactive lesson encourages students and young people to consider the causes and consequences of hate crime on the victims, their families and friends, as well as how the outcome affects the lives of the perpetrators of such crimes.
Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond, of Police Scotland’s Local Policing Command, said: “We are extremely grateful to have been able to work with I Am Me Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Service to produce the You Judge resource.
“We all have a role to play in educating our communities on what hate crime is and the toll it takes on its victims.
“Telling our young people to understand that as early as possible is an important step toward eradicating hate crime, as well as encouraging victims and witnesses to speak up when they see hate manifested in our communities.”
Hate crime is any crime that is perceived by the victim, or anyone else witnessing the incident, to be motivated by hostility towards a group. It tends to fall into five categories: disability, race, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.
Procurator Fiscal Ruth McQuaid, equality champion of the COPFS equality and diversity group, said: “The You Judge resource is the latest in a series of initiatives from I Am Me Scotland targeted at educating young people with the aim of promoting a better understanding of the devastating impact of this criminal behaviour on victims, their families and the wider community.
“COPFS take seriously all reports of hate crime and have a robust approach to prosecution. We would urge anyone who witnesses or experiences such behaviour to report it using the safe channels available.”
You Judge is available for free at iammscotlandeducation.org.uk.
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