Latest news with #MurdoFraser
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police Scotland accused of comparing gender-critical feminists to Nazis
Police Scotland has been accused of comparing gender-critical feminists to Nazis after an internal document drew parallels between the two. The document said that 'gender binary' – the belief that there are only two genders – was a 'key feature of the Nazi racial policies'. It said that 'right now, some 88 years later the gender-critical movement has a strong voice and presence' and questioned whether this was 'an echo of how past hostilities arose'. The document also asked whether the strength of gender critics, who argue there are only two genders, meant 'we have failed to understand the lessons we should have collectively learned from our shared history.' It was posted on a divisional noticeboard to mark 'Trans+ History Week' in May, which aims to celebrate the history of 'gender diverse people', including 'trans, non-binary and intersex people.' Police Scotland said the document had been removed but critics said it should be a 'wake-up call' about how the force deals with gender and sex. Last September, the force reversed a policy that allowed rapists to self-identify as female as it fostered 'a strong sense of belonging'. The furore over the document erupted after the Supreme Court ruled in April that trans women are not women. Police Scotland announced that it would review its policies on trans issues and a meeting was held behind closed doors at its Tulliallan headquarters on Thursday to discuss the implications of the ruling. Responding to the document, which was disclosed by the Scottish Daily Mail, a force spokesman said: 'The content does not reflect the views of Police Scotland and has been removed. Advice will be given around the use of language.' Dr Lucy Hunter Blackburn, of policy analysts Murray Blackburn Mackenzie, said: 'It is welcome Police Scotland recognise this is unacceptable language. 'But this should be a wake-up call about the culture around sex and gender in the force. The Supreme Court's clarification of the law offers an opportunity for the leadership to break with the past. They urgently need to take it.' Murdo Fraser, a Scottish Tory MSP, said: 'It's unbelievable that such outrageous language made it into an official Police Scotland document. 'This is a deeply offensive comparison. People with concerns about the SNP's flawed gender self-ID plans shouldn't be vilified for standing up for common sense.' The document said Trans+ History Week was a chance to 'learn and celebrate the rich and long history of trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex people. 'At a time when anti-trans rhetoric is on the rise, this can be a week where we can uplift the trans community and send a clear message – 'trans people have always been here.'' It said the event was timed to coincide with the anniversary of a 'Nazi raid on the world's first ever trans clinic in 1933', adding that: 'Gender binary was a key feature of the Nazi racial policies.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Perth and Kinross politicians urge Transport Minister to take Swallow Roundabout issues seriously
Road users have not only faced delays but found the new layout both confusing and dangerous A Perth and Kinross councillor says almost 1500 residents have told him they have faced delays due to the Swallow Roundabout's new traffic lights. As well as delays, drivers have complained the Invergowrie roundabout's lanes and signage are both confusing and dangerous. Cllr Angus Forbes and local MSP Murdo Fraser have urged Scotland's Transport Minister to "start taking this issue seriously". The Swallow Roundabout is on the A90 next to the boundary between Perth and Kinross and Dundee. As part of the planning conditions for its Western Gateway development, housebuilder Springfield was asked by Dundee City Council to make improvements to the Swallow Roundabout. The developer appointed Luddon Construction Ltd to carry out the roundabout improvements. But the results have left road users seeing red. Approaching the roundabout from Perth, drivers are told there are two lanes which point straight on. It is only when the third lane appears, there is another sign saying there are three lanes and drivers can turn right towards Dundee/Invergowrie. But the traffic signals have a no right-turn sign on them. One Carse of Gowrie resident described the new layout as both "potentially life-threatening" and "mind-blowingly stupid (and yet eminently fixable)". Conservative councillor Angus Forbes and Murdo Fraser MSP wrote to Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop raising drivers' concerns. In her reply, the Ms Hyslop said: "It is likely to take some time for drivers to fully adapt to the new road layout at what is already an extremely busy part of the trunk road network and we would encourage road users to plan their journeys accordingly as some delays may be anticipated, particularly at peak times. "The noted observations in the Road Safety Audit carried out in March and any post-construction review observations including those made by road users regarding road markings and signs, are currently being reviewed and considered by the developer, their designer Amey and the local authority. All organisations are working together to resolve this matter." Cllr Forbes was "bitterly disappointed" with the Transport Secretary's response. He said: "It is absolutely clear that the signage is confusing and whilst I can't understand why a safety audit was needed to establish this, I am nevertheless grateful that it has flagged this up. "However, what this safety audit does not address are the long queues that my constituents face day after day trying to get to work and medical appointments. Almost 1,500 people reported to me that they faced increased journey times as a result of the new traffic light system, this is unsustainable in the long-term. I am already seeing increased traffic in local villages." Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser accused Fiona Hyslop of "washing her hands of the problem". Mr Fraser added: "Her response to my letter about the issues experienced by many motorists at the roundabout is very vague and doesn't address all the issues there. "It is very clear that the new traffic system is causing many problems for motorists - the road markings cause confusion and it is no surprise there has been so much concern. We really need the SNP Transport Secretary to step up to the mark and start taking this issue seriously." Fellow Carse of Gowrie councillor Alasdair Bailey made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Transport Scotland to see the road safety audit, arguing - given it was about public safety - its findings should be made public. The road safety audit conducted by Stewart Paton Associates for Transport Scotland, on behalf of Springfield, made several safety recommendations which are currently being reviewed by Springfield.
Telegraph
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Police handling of MSP trans cat tweet row ‘unreasonable'
Police Scotland falsely dismissed a Tory MSP's complaints about the force logging a non-crime hate incident against him after he compared non-binary people with those who identify as cats. The Police Investigation and Review Commissioner (PIRC) said the force failed to rebut Murdo Fraser's claim that he had been treated differently to JK Rowling and Humza Yousaf, the former first minister. A 17-page ruling issued by the watchdog, and seen by The Telegraph, found that Police Scotland also failed to acknowledge that Mr Fraser's personal data had been recorded on police systems. It said the force had not addressed the 'crux' of the MSP's allegation that its guidance to officers on how to investigate and record hate crimes was unlawful. The review concluded that 'Police Scotland did not handle the complaints to a reasonable standard', and ordered the force to carry out a 'further inquiry' within two months. A jubilant Mr Fraser said the ruling was a 'devastating rebuff to Police Scotland' and the force had been 'sent homewards to think again' about its use of non crime hate incidents (NCHIs). He said the force had been operating an 'unlawful' policy that stifled free speech, and was being given 'one last chance' to explain why he had been treated differently from a former SNP first minister. Mr Fraser, a Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, was reported to the police by a member of the public in November 2023 after he shared a post on social media about the Scottish Government's transgender policies. He wrote: Choosing to identify as 'non-binary' is as valid as choosing to identify as a cat. I'm not sure Governments should be spending time on action plans for either. — Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) November 18, 2023 Police Scotland judged that the post was not a crime, but still logged it as a NCHI, without telling him. After finding out, he tried unsuccessfully to get the force to withdraw the NCHI, but the force refused, saying it adopted a 'victim centred approach'. The MSP's lawyers wrote to PIRC in November last year, stating that Police Scotland had broken down his complaint into three allegations, all of which had been rejected 'without foundation'. They argued that the decision breached his right to freedom of expression, and the force could not explain why he had been targeted when no NCHIs were recorded against Mr Yousaf or Ms Rowling for other controversial statements. Only hours after the SNP's controversial hate crime laws came into force a year ago, Ms Rowling posted pictures of 10 high-profile trans people and ridiculed their claims to be women. She then challenged police to arrest her. The police also received multiple complaints about a speech by Mr Yousaf in a 2020 Holyrood debate challenging racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in May that year. He said, '99 per cent of the time', he was 'the only non-white person' in the room during government meetings. The footage has since been used to claim he is bigoted, which he has vigorously denied. The PIRC report also follows a public backlash against NCHIs, incidents that fall short of being criminal but are perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards a person with a particular characteristic. Campaigners have warned of their chilling effect on free speech and in November, Allison Pearson, the Telegraph columnist, was visited at her home by officers from Essex Police following a complaint over a social media post. Pearson initially believed that she was being investigated for an NCHI, and the incident resulted in a public debate about their use. Welcoming PIRC's ruling, Mr Fraser said: 'This is a devastating rebuff to Police Scotland from PIRC, and a vindication of the stance I have taken in complaining about their policy on recording NCHIs. 'On all three of my complaints – data handling, the lawfulness of the policy, and its inconsistent application – Police Scotland have been sent homewards to think again.' 'It has always been clear to me that the police have been operating a policy which is unlawful and a breach of human rights in that it stifles free speech. Moreover, they have treated me as an opposition MSP differently from a SNP First Minister, with no credible explanation. Now they have one last chance to try and justify their stance.' Three complaints PIRC reviewed Police Scotland's handling of three complaints lodged by Mr Fraser, the first of which stated that an NCHI should not have been logged about his social media post. The second argued that the force's decision to log an NCHI was 'contrary to law', and the third alleged that the police 'did not consistently apply their policy' on the recording of such incidents. A senior officer – titled Chief Inspector D in the PIRC report – wrote to Mr Fraser dismissing his claim that his NCHI breached the Human Rights Act, and that it represented 'unlawful interference' with his right to freedom of expression. The officer referred to the force's Hate Crime National Guidance (HCNG), which states that 'for recording purposes, the perception of the victim or any other person is the defining factor in determining whether an incident is a hate incident'. Chief Inspector D also told Mr Fraser that his personal details had not been recorded in the force's Interim Vulnerable Persons Database (IVPD) and there was 'no evidence' they had been inappropriately stored. However, PIRC found that Police Scotland had logged the case on a separate, 'inextricably linked' database and it had been categorised as a 'hate incident'. Data recorded on police systems Upholding Mr Fraser's first complaint, PIRC said Chief Inspector D 'ought to have acknowledged that the applicant's personal data was recorded on police systems as a result of the report about the social media post; assessed whether he was satisfied that the police had followed the correct process, and whether this was consistent with the relevant guidance'. PIRC said the chief inspector had 'made inquiries' with the force's legal services department on whether the force's hate crime guidance was lawful. However, the review said: 'It does not appear that this assessment was carried out.' Instead the senior officer decided his response to Mr Fraser's complaint would 'provide enough explanation as to why policy is not contrary to law, but will not provide every reason'. Chief Inspector D said this 'would allow PS (Police Scotland) to retain their arguments' in case Mr Fraser pursued legal action against the force. However, PIRC found this was 'not in the spirit of the complaint process'. Upholding Mr Fraser's second complaint, the commissioner said Chief Inspector D did 'not directly address the crux of the complaint'. 'Significant shortcoming' Chief Inspector D also told the Tory MSP that he had found no evidence 'there has been any bias' or inconsistency in the way in which his hate incident had been logged. The PIRC report found that an officer dealing with Mr Fraser's complaint had 'requested clarification' about whether 'a policy decision had been made' not to record hate incidents in relation to Ms Rowling and Mr Yousaf. However, no response was received to this request, with PIRC concluding: 'This is a significant shortcoming in the complaint inquiry in establishing the material facts.' Upholding Mr Fraser's third complaint, the commissioner said the police response did not explain what 'incidents' were considered when deciding there was no bias. PIRC concluded: 'We have found that Police Scotland did not handle the complaints to a reasonable standard. 'Consequently, we have issued three reconsideration directions to address the shortcomings in Police Scotland's handling of the complaints. In reconsidering the complaints, Police Scotland should carry out further inquiry and provide the applicant with a further response. Our reconsideration directions should be completed by Police Scotland within two months.' A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Following recent receipt of the complaint handling review from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), we will consider the recommendations and a full update will be provided to the complainer in due course.'
