Scots back proposals to make misogyny a hate crime

The Scottish government is considering new laws after the targeting of women was left out of the Hate Crime Act, which is yet to come into force despite being passed last year.

A survey by YouGov for the newspaper found that 64 per cent of 1,115 people supported measures that would force judges to consider longer sentences where a crime was motivated by hostility based on sex or gender.

Seventeen per cent of respondents opposed the move while 18 per cent said they did not know. Sixty-one per cent of men supported a new law, with 22 per cent opposed. Sixty-seven per cent of women were in favour while 12 per cent were against.

YouGov interviewed 1,115 adults aged 16 and over in Scotland from May 18 to 23.