Police Scotland slammed for using ‘pound shop Elmo’ in hate crime campaign

COPS have been accused of trivialising hate crimes – by using a bizarre cartoon character as part of an awareness campaign.

The Hate Monster was last night likened to “a pound shop version” of Sesame Street‘s Elmo.

And a row erupted over the menacing-looking creation – with new offences of “stirring up hatred” set to be introduced on April 1.

Police Scotland‘s website asks: “Have you met the Hate Monster?” – as potential offenders are urged: “Go on, be good to yourself. Don’t feed the Hate Monster.”

The PR move was attacked for assuming young men from poorer backgrounds are the biggest perpetrators of hate crimes.

The campaign blurb says those aged 18-30 from “socially excluded communities” can become “addicted to conflict”.

But former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont compared the “puerile” assumptions about hate crimes to outdated views about violence against women.

She hit out: “Domestic abuse was in the past dismissed as a ‘domestic’ – explained away by a view that it was poverty that bred violence and ignoring completely that male violence is no respecter of class.

“I find the sweeping assumptions of the Hate Monster – good grief – just as dangerous.

“Who, hearing the campaign pitch, thought ‘That captures the gravity and complexity of the issues involved’?

“Who knew responsibility for racism, hostility to minorities and abuse of disabled people lies with a hate monster lurking in impoverished homes?”

Ms Lamont continued: “The notion that hate is driven by economic disadvantage insults all those who support their families and communities despite poverty. And it ignores the hatred exercised by those who are financially secure.”

From next month, age, disability, sexual orientation and transgender identity will be viewed as “protected characteristics” alongside race.

We told how the move was part of controversial laws introduced three years ago – but long-delayed due to fears over a lack of police training and IT systems.

The Hate Monster is prominent at the top of Police Scotland‘s main hate crime page – one of the top Google results for anyone searching for hate crime laws in Scotland.

Despite the monster campaign being launched last year, it has gained traction this week due to the new Hate Hurts push backed by the Scottish Government and Police Scotland, which is urging people to report incidents.

According to Police Scotland’s website, the angry-looking figure represents “the feeling some people get when they are frustrated and angry” and turn on other people.

Their blurb claims that: “The Hate Monster loves it when you get angry.

“He weighs you down till you end up targeting someone, just because they look or act different to you.

“When you’re feeling insecure or angry, the Hate Monster feeds on that.”

The advice goes on: “If you have committed or feel you’re at risk of committing a hate crime, remember, it doesn’t make you feel better.

“Maybe for a moment, but in the end, you feel worse.

“The hate lingers. It can really mess up your life in other ways too, like when it comes to things like finding a job.

“A police record for hate crime is not a good look on anyone. Go on, be good to yourself. Don’t feed the Hate Monster.”

Controversially, the force’s promotional material addresses young males from “socially excluded communities”.

It says: “We know that young men aged 18-30 are most likely to commit hate crime. They may have deep-rooted feelings of being socially and economically disadvantaged, combined with ideas about white-male entitlement.

“Committing hate crime is strongly linked to a range of risk factors, including economic deprivation, adverse childhood experiences, substance abuse and underemployment.”

But Tory shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay MSP described the idea that offences are more likely to occur in worse-off communities as “grossly offensive”.

He insisted: “Police Scotland’s pound shop version of a Sesame Street character to explain Humza Yousaf‘s hate crime law should never have seen the light of day.

“While people rightly ridicule the ludicrous Hate Monster, the suggestion that people from deprived areas are more likely to commit alleged hate crimes is grossly offensive.”

We told how up to 15,000 minor crimes will no longer be investigated by over-stretched cops.

And Mr Findlay added: “This legislation risks harming free speech in Scotland and should be binned – allowing police to revert to investigating every crime reported to them.”

The campaign was last night ridiculed on social media.

One critic said of the Hate Monster: “Divisive, insulting, patronising. Practically a ‘hate crime’ in itself.”

Another chipped in: “It’s sinister, childish and pathetic at the same time.” Meanwhile, former Scottish

Police Federation chief Calum Steele questioned how much work went into dreaming up the cartoon monstrosity.

He said: “There would have been many meetings, committees and focus groups where this concept was nurtured and finessed before being agreed for release into the world. I can visualise them now.”

The reaction follows warnings that the hate crimes blitz risks pushing frontline cops to breaking point.

We told how the move was part of controversial laws introduced by Humza Yousaf in 2021 – but long delayed due to fears over lack of police training and IT systems.

The then Justice Secretary was forced to backtrack on parts of the Hate Crime and Public Order Act due to fears for free speech.

We told this week of worries that third party centres where victims can report hate crimes include a sex shop. The store, flogging X-rated toys and bondage gear, is one of almost 100 sites listed.

But Tory MSP Annie Wells called for Glasgow‘s racy Luke & Jack outlet to be dropped from the network.

Asked about the Hate Monster campaign, a Police Scotland spokesman said: “The campaign, which is not connected to the new legislation, was developed by Police Scotland using recognised industry practice and ran for six weeks in spring 2023.”