The professional body, representing many of Scotland’s top lawyers has strongly criticised the Scottish government’s proposed new hate crime law.

The Faculty of Advocates said the bill would have:

The lawyers also warned that the bill could lead to malicious complaints being made which would cause:

The faculty’s criticisms follows those of the Law Society of Scotland which said recently that the bill contained major flaws.

Campaigners, Police Scotland, academics, the Catholic Church and the Free Church have all raised significant concerns.

CARE submitted a response to the Justice Committee on the proposed bill and warned the legislation would seriously undermine free speech.