PLANS to hand Scottish courts more powers to punish the perpetrators of sectarian abuse have won widespread support from police, church leaders and campaigners.
The idea of a new law on sectarianism, which would make religious hatred an aggravation of existing criminal offences, has been put to the Scottish Parliament by Liberal Democrat MSP Donald Gorrie.
The move would allow courts to issue harsher penalties if crimes, such as assault or harassment, were motivated by such attitudes.
Mr Gorrie today said his plans had received widespread backing from, among others, the Commission for Racial Equality, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Law Society, churches and the anti-sectarian campaign group Nil by Mouth.
But the Liberal Democrat MSP said he expected to face resistance from the establishment, which would argue there was no need for action.
Today, Mr Gorrie said he had been encouraged by the response to his consultation document. He said: “There is very widespread support for the idea.”