Fierce row erupts over police hate crime post

MORE than 2,000 people have joined in a furious social media row after Police Scotland asked communities to report Islamophobia as a hate crime.

- BY MARY WRIGHT

Chief Constable Jo Farrell has warned of rising social unrest

Critics questioned whether the same approach would be applied to other religious, while a Kirk minister pointed out that this already happens.

Police Scotland say they recorded 5206 hate crimes between April and September - 317 more than last year - with racially-motivated offences showing the “most-notable increase”.

Data shows 3,164 were racial offences (60%), an increase of more than 6% — or 184 more - than the same period last year.

The row erupted after officers from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team organised a hate crime training session during Islamophobia Awareness month, giving a talk on the “importance of recognising, reporting and challenging all forms of prejudice” at Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre (AMIC) in November.