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All forms of hate crime and prejudice are completely unacceptable. In schools, we want all children and young people to learn tolerance, respect, equality and good citizenship to address and prevent prejudice. Whilst not specifically about tackling hate crime, promoting positive attitudes amongst children and young people is key to long term prevention.

The Scottish Government takes bullying very seriously, and we are currently refreshing our national approach to anti-bullying (including prejudice based bullying). ’Respect for All’ will help everyone involved in the lives of children and young people to identify and address bullying, including racist, homophobic and abusive behaviour whether it happens online or offline. Teachers, schools, local authorities, youth organisations and sports organisations will be able to draw on this advice when refreshing their anti-bullying policies. The guidance will be published later this year.

In addition, Relationships sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the curriculum in Scotland. In 2014 we published guidance on RSHP education in schools that clearly states how important it is that RSHP education addresses diversity and reflects issues relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people or children with LGBTI parents, such as same sex marriage and hate crime.