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1 | P a g e FORMAL INCIDENT REPORT To: Police Scotland Subject: Alleged Coordinated Stalking, Harassment, Discrimination, Smear Campaign, Intimidation, Third-Party Harassment and Interference with Employment and Personal Life 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT This report concerns a 34-year-old woman who reports having been subjected to a prolonged and escalating pattern of alleged stalking, harassment, intimidation, reputational attacks, discriminatory targeting, interference with employment and finances, suspected monitoring, and the use of third parties to approach, pressure and harass her. The reported conduct has continued for approximately two years, with particularly persistent close- proximity harassment involving men for approximately 14 months. The subject believes that multiple individuals are connected and that the conduct represents a coordinated course of behaviour rather than a series of unrelated incidents. The subject further reports that the alleged conduct may involve a combination of motives and discriminatory factors relating to: • Arab ethnicity; • sex and gender; • misogyny; • Muslim/Jewish religious identity; • right-wing political identity; • refugee/asylum status; • single/marital status; • financial circumstances; • lack of family support; • perceived social vulnerability. These are reported as suspected motives and discriminatory factors requiring investigation, rather than established findings.
2 | P a g e 2. SUBJECT / VICTIM BACKGROUND The subject is a 34-year-old Arab refugee woman who has lived in the UK for approximately ten years. Relevant background: • Relocated to the UK in 2017 on a scholarship. • Applied for asylum in the UK in 2018. • Holds a Master's degree. • Professionally qualified in counselling. • Qualified as a personal trainer, including pre-/post-natal and chronic-disease training. • Previously worked in academia as a university lecturer. • Is single. • Has no close family support network in the UK. • Does not have a partner providing personal or financial protection. • Has experienced periods of significant financial vulnerability. The subject identifies as right-wing politically. The subject has a Muslim/Jewish religious identity. The subject believes that her ethnicity, gender, religious identity, political identity, refugee status, marital status, financial circumstances and lack of family support may have been identified and exploited by persons involved in the reported conduct.
3 | P a g e 3. REPORTED COMMENCEMENT OF TARGETING Approximate commencement: 2024. The subject reports that a group of individuals began deliberately targeting her. The subject believes the selection of her as a target was influenced by her perceived vulnerability as: • an Arab woman; • a refugee; • a Muslim/Jewish woman; • a right-wing woman; • a single woman; • a woman without close family support in the UK; • a person experiencing financial difficulty; • a person perceived to have limited social and institutional protection. The reported conduct subsequently developed into a wider campaign involving allegations concerning the subject's character, finances, relationships, religion and political identity. 4. SUSPECTED GROUP / PERSONS INVOLVED The subject describes the principal group as including several individuals reportedly in their 60s. Reported characteristics include: • married individuals; • individuals described as financially wealthy or upper-class; • individuals presenting themselves as psychologists; • individuals with professional or academic backgrounds; • individuals possessing social and professional connections; • individuals with connections extending outside the UK. The subject has concerns that some persons presenting themselves as psychologists may not have been appropriately licensed or registered to practise in that capacity. The identities, professional qualifications, registration status, employment histories and relationships between these individuals should be established as part of the investigation.
4 | P a g e 5. ALLEGED RACIAL / ETHNIC MOTIVE Classification: Suspected racial/ethnic prejudice – anti-Arab targeting. The subject is Arab. She believes that her Arab ethnicity may form part of the reason she was selected for targeting. The investigation should establish whether individuals involved have: • made anti-Arab comments; • used racial or ethnic stereotypes concerning the subject; • referred to her Arab identity when discussing her; • made assumptions concerning Arab women; • made racialised assumptions concerning her relationships; • made racialised assumptions concerning money or dependency; • treated her differently because of her ethnicity; • communicated information about her Arab identity to third parties. The subject requests that any evidence of racial hostility or discriminatory motivation be separately recorded and assessed. 6. REFUGEE / ASYLUM STATUS AS A POSSIBLE VULNERABILITY FACTOR The subject believes that her refugee/asylum circumstances have been identified and exploited. The subject reports that individuals appear to have recognised that she: • has no close family network in the UK; • has limited financial protection; • does not have a partner; • has limited access to a personal support network; • is dependent upon employment and public support during periods of financial difficulty; • may be perceived as having fewer resources with which to defend herself. The subject believes that this may have contributed to her selection as a target. The investigation should establish whether her refugee/asylum status was discussed or relied upon by the individuals involved.
5 | P a g e 7. ALLEGED MISOGYNY / SEX-BASED TARGETING Classification: Suspected sex-based hostility / misogynistic targeting. The subject reports that the alleged conduct is strongly gendered. The central narrative allegedly communicated about her is that she is a single woman who is looking for money from men and would therefore supposedly accept a man who provides financial support. The subject reports that she has been: • promoted to men as a potential partner; • portrayed as financially available; • described as a woman who would accept a man because of money; • subjected to pressure to accept particular men; • approached by men who allegedly received information about her; • subjected to hostility after rejecting approaches. The subject believes that this reflects an attempt to exploit her status as a single woman and undermine her autonomy. 8. ALLEGED CONTROL OF RELATIONSHIP CHOICES A central feature of the reported conduct is the alleged attempt to determine whom the subject should accept as a partner. The reported sequence is: Subject identified as financially vulnerable → men identified/promoted to her → information supplied to men → expectation created that she will accept them → subject rejects them → harassment increases → pressure continues. The subject reports that she has never consented to this process. She has repeatedly rejected the proposed relationships. She believes the continued pressure is intended to undermine her autonomy and eventually cause her to accept a relationship against her wishes.
6 | P a g e 9. RELIGIOUS IDENTITY – MUSLIM / JEWISH Classification: Reported religious identity – possible religious discrimination/hostility requiring investigation. The subject has a Muslim/Jewish religious identity. She believes that her religious identity may be relevant to the alleged targeting. The investigation should establish whether individuals involved have: • made derogatory comments concerning her Muslim or Jewish identity; • referred to her religion when discussing or targeting her; • used religious stereotypes concerning her; • portrayed her negatively because of her religious identity; • used her religious identity to influence third parties; • encouraged hostility towards her because of her religion; • attempted to interfere with her religious beliefs or practices. The subject does not assert that every individual involved is motivated by religious hostility. The request is that investigators determine whether religious prejudice formed any part of the motivation for the conduct.
7 | P a g e 10. RIGHT-WING POLITICAL IDENTITY / ALLEGED POLITICAL HOSTILITY Classification: Suspected political/ideological hostility – motive requiring investigation. The subject identifies as right-wing politically. She reports that individuals involved have nevertheless characterised her as: • communist; • socialist; • left-wing; • someone seeking to benefit financially from men. The subject disputes these descriptions. She believes the contradictory political characterisations have been used deliberately to construct a false narrative about her identity and character. The concern is not the political opinions of the individuals involved. The concern is the alleged use of political labelling to: • discredit the subject; • misrepresent her beliefs; • create hostility towards her; • influence third parties; • isolate her socially; • contribute to the wider campaign. The subject requests that investigators establish whether political hostility was a motivating factor. The political element should be recorded as a reported motive/context, with investigators determining its legal significance.
8 | P a g e 11. ALLEGED SMEAR CAMPAIGN The subject reports a sustained campaign of allegations concerning her character and motives. The principal allegation allegedly communicated to third parties is that the subject is looking for money from men. Variations allegedly include: • she wants a man to support her financially; • she would choose a man because of his money; • she would settle for a man because she needs financial assistance; • she is habitually interested in men for financial reasons. The subject disputes these allegations. She reports that the circumstances contributing to her financial difficulties were not disclosed to the persons receiving the allegations. In particular, the alleged interference with her employment and income was allegedly omitted. The subject believes her financial vulnerability was deliberately transformed into a false character narrative.
9 | P a g e 12. ALLEGED INTERFERENCE WITH EMPLOYMENT The subject reports that individuals attempted to restrict her ability to work. Reported conduct includes threats or warnings that if she attempted to work: • problems would be created at workplaces; • hostility or violence could be encouraged; • attempts would be made to have her dismissed; • recruitment processes would be interfered with; • employers would be discouraged from hiring her; • professional or personal connections would be used to influence employment decisions. The subject believes individuals may have used connections in the UK and abroad to interfere with employment opportunities. The investigation should identify: • employers contacted; • prospective employers contacted; • communications sent; • persons making contact; • information communicated; • recruitment decisions affected; • connections between those persons and the wider group.
10 | P a g e 13. ALLEGED CREATION / EXPLOITATION OF FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY The subject reports that her ability to work and obtain support was restricted. She subsequently experienced severe financial hardship. During periods of hardship, she reports relying upon Universal Credit and homeless-food support for basic necessities. The subject believes that her financial vulnerability was then used as evidence for the allegation that she was looking for money from men. The reported sequence is: Interference with income → financial vulnerability → dissemination of narrative that subject seeks men's money. The subject believes this sequence was deliberate and requests investigation into the connection between these events. 14. ALLEGED INTERFERENCE WITH FINANCIAL / LEGAL SUPPORT The subject reports concerns that individuals attempted to interfere with access to: • financial assistance; • legal assistance; • practical assistance; • other support services. She believes the objective was to isolate her and reduce her ability to obtain independent assistance. The identities of persons who may have interfered with such support should be established.
11 | P a g e 15. ALLEGED MONITORING / SURVEILLANCE The subject reports concerns regarding possible monitoring of: • electronic devices; • telephone communications; • online accounts; • location; • movements; • contacts; • relationships; • employment activities; • places visited; • personal interactions. The subject believes information concerning her movements and relationships may subsequently have been passed to other individuals. The investigation should establish: • how third parties obtained information about the subject; • whether devices or accounts were accessed; • whether tracking occurred; • whether communications were monitored; • whether location information was obtained; • whether information was passed between group members.
12 | P a g e 16. THIRD-PARTY MALE HARASSMENT Approximate duration: 14 months. The subject reports that men began approaching her after allegedly receiving information about her financial circumstances. The reported information allegedly included: "She is looking for money." and: "She is looking for money, so she will settle for you." The subject reports that men were therefore approaching her with an expectation that she would accept them. The subject rejected these approaches. She reports that rejection was followed in some cases by increased hostility, persistence or intimidation.
13 | P a g e 17. ALLEGED INCITEMENT OF MALE AGGRESSION The subject believes that the manner in which information was communicated to men was capable of provoking hostility. The alleged narrative created an expectation that: • the subject wanted a financially supportive man; • the man could therefore expect acceptance; • rejection was inconsistent with the information provided; • the subject could supposedly be persuaded because of financial need. The subject believes this created a foreseeable risk of male hostility following rejection. She has reported relevant incidents to police. 18. ALLEGED USE OF MEN AS PROXIES The subject believes that some men may have been used as intermediaries by the wider group. The basis for this concern includes: • men appearing to possess specific information about her; • repeated use of similar narratives; • approaches apparently connected to information originating from other persons; • escalation following rejection; • apparent relationships between some men and individuals within the wider group. The investigation should establish whether communications, instructions, introductions or other coordination existed between the group and the men approaching the subject. 19. ALLEGED PRESSURE TOWARDS PARTICULAR MEN The subject reports that particular men appeared to be promoted or selected by individuals within the wider group. The subject rejected these men and refused to enter relationships with them. She reports that pressure continued following rejection. She believes the alleged objective was to continue increasing pressure until she accepted one of the men.
14 | P a g e 20. CLOSE-PROXIMITY HARASSMENT Approximate duration: 14 months. The subject reports persistent close-proximity harassment involving men. Reported behaviour includes: • unwanted presence; • repeated approaches; • unwanted conversations; • apparent following; • repeated appearances near the subject; • attempts to establish contact; • continuation after rejection. The subject believes these incidents are connected to the wider campaign. A chronological schedule of dates, times and locations should be provided separately. 21. NOISE / ENVIRONMENTAL HARASSMENT The subject reports deliberate or persistent noise and disturbance. She believes the conduct was used to: • disturb her; • intimidate her; • interfere with her ability to rest; • increase psychological pressure; • contribute to the wider campaign. Specific dates, times, locations, recordings and witnesses should be provided where available. 22. ALLEGED RESTRICTION OF FOOD / BASIC NECESSITIES The subject reports incidents involving interference with access to food and basic necessities. During periods of severe financial hardship she reports relying upon homeless-food provision. The subject believes the restriction or deprivation of basic necessities was intended to increase dependency and vulnerability. Specific incidents and evidence should be investigated individually.
15 | P a g e 23. MISUSE OF POWER / SOCIAL POSITION The subject reports a significant power imbalance between herself and some individuals involved. Reported factors include: • age; • wealth; • professional status; • social connections; • institutional connections; • family networks; • international connections; • perceived authority. The subject believes these advantages have been used to influence third parties and interfere with her employment and personal life.
16 | P a g e 24. MARITAL / FAMILY STATUS AS A POSSIBLE TARGETING FACTOR The subject is single and does not have a close family support network in the UK. She believes these circumstances have been specifically used against her. The reported assumption appears to be: Single → no partner → no family nearby → financially/socially vulnerable → can be pressured into accepting a man. The subject believes this assumption was central to the subsequent campaign. The investigation should establish whether her marital status, age or lack of family support were discussed by the individuals involved when deciding to target or approach her. 25. INTERSECTIONAL TARGETING The subject believes the alleged targeting cannot be understood through one characteristic alone. The relevant combination is reported as: Arab + woman + Muslim/Jewish religious identity + right-wing political identity + refugee + single + financially vulnerable + without close family support in the UK. The subject believes that the combination of these characteristics may have created a perception among the individuals involved that she was particularly vulnerable and could be pressured. The alleged targeting should therefore be examined for possible intersectional discrimination, with investigators considering whether multiple characteristics operated together.
17 | P a g e 26. ALLEGED OVERALL MOTIVE The subject's assessment is that the alleged conduct may have been motivated by a combination of: A. Race / ethnicity Because she is Arab. B. Sex / misogyny Because she is a woman, particularly a single woman asserting independence and rejecting unwanted relationships. C. Religion Because of her Muslim/Jewish religious identity. D. Political / ideological identity Because she identifies as right-wing and reports being falsely characterised as communist, socialist or left-wing. E. Refugee status Because of her immigration/refugee circumstances and perceived lack of institutional and family support. F. Marital status Because she is single. G. Financial circumstances Because she was perceived as financially vulnerable. H. Social isolation Because she lacks close family support in the UK. I. Power imbalance Because of alleged differences in age, wealth, professional standing and social connections. These are reported or suspected motives and vulnerability factors requiring investigation.
18 | P a g e 27. REPORTED OVERALL PATTERN The subject describes the alleged pattern as: Identification of vulnerable woman ↓ Targeting potentially connected to ethnicity, gender, religion, political identity, refugee status and financial circumstances ↓ Smear campaign ↓ Damage to reputation ↓ Interference with employment ↓ Reduction of financial independence ↓ Increased financial vulnerability ↓ Portrayal of vulnerability as desire for men's money ↓ Information supplied to men ↓ Men approach the subject ↓ Subject rejects advances ↓ Increased hostility / harassment ↓ Further pressure towards selected men ↓ Continued stalking, monitoring and interference ↓ Attempt to restrict the subject's independence until she submits to an unwanted relationship or arrangement.
19 | P a g e This sequence represents the subject's reported understanding and should be tested against evidence. 28. CEASE-AND-DESIST CORRESPONDENCE The subject has issued cease-and-desist correspondence to relevant individuals/groups. The correspondence communicated that: • the conduct was unwanted; • the subject rejected the alleged interference; • continued contact/interference was not consented to; • the behaviour was required to stop. Despite this, the subject reports that the alleged conduct continued. Copies of the correspondence and proof of delivery should be provided to investigators. 29. IMPACT ON THE SUBJECT The reported conduct has affected multiple areas of the subject's life. Reported consequences include: • loss or restriction of employment opportunities; • financial hardship; • dependence upon public/emergency assistance; • reputational damage; • social isolation; • repeated unwanted approaches; • fear of male aggression; • concerns regarding surveillance; • disruption of personal decisions; • inability to establish ordinary boundaries without further harassment; • fear of escalation; • pressure concerning relationships; • reduced sense of personal safety. The subject believes the cumulative effect has been to undermine her independence.
20 | P a g e 30. POTENTIAL OFFENCES / LEGAL CLASSIFICATION The subject requests that investigators determine whether the reported conduct constitutes any criminal offences, potentially including: • stalking; • harassment; • threatening or intimidating behaviour; • malicious or threatening communications; • offences involving unauthorised access or monitoring; • conduct involving third-party intimidation; • offences involving discriminatory or hate-related motivation; • other offences arising from interference with employment, safety or personal liberty. The subject does not seek to determine the legal classification herself. The purpose of this report is to provide the factual allegations and suspected motives so that Police Scotland can determine the appropriate legal classification.
21 | P a g e 31. HATE-CRIME / DISCRIMINATION ASSESSMENT The subject requests that each relevant incident be assessed for possible discriminatory motivation, hostility or hate-crime aggravation. In particular, investigators are requested to consider: • race/ethnicity; • Arab identity; • religion; • Muslim/Jewish identity; • sex/gender; • misogynistic motivation; • refugee/asylum circumstances; • political/ideological hostility; • marital/family status; • financial/social vulnerability; • intersectional targeting. The subject requests that these characteristics be recorded where supported by the evidence. The political element should be recorded as a possible motive/context, with investigators determining its legal significance.
22 | P a g e 32. INVESTIGATIVE QUESTIONS The subject requests that investigators establish: Identity and coordination 1. Who initiated the alleged campaign? 2. Who participates in it? 3. What relationships exist between the individuals? 4. Who communicates with whom? 5. Which individuals are acting as intermediaries? Motive 6. Was the subject selected because she is Arab? 7. Was she selected because she is a woman? 8. Was her Muslim/Jewish identity relevant? 9. Was her right-wing political identity relevant? 10. Was her refugee status relevant? 11. Was her single status relevant? 12. Was her financial vulnerability deliberately exploited? Smear campaign 13. Who originated the allegation that she seeks money from men? 14. Who distributed it? 15. To whom was it distributed? 16. What information was provided? 17. What information was deliberately omitted? 18. Was the alleged employment interference concealed from recipients? Male harassment 19. Who provided information to the men approaching her? 20. Were those men instructed or encouraged to approach her? 21. Were they told that she would accept them because of financial need? 22. Was hostility following rejection encouraged or anticipated?
23 | P a g e Employment 23. Were employers contacted? 24. Were prospective employers contacted? 25. Were recruitment processes interfered with? 26. Were threats made concerning employment? Monitoring 27. How did individuals obtain information about her movements? 28. Were devices/accounts accessed? 29. Was location information obtained? 30. Was information passed between group members? Professional influence 31. Which individuals presented themselves as psychologists? 32. Are they appropriately registered? 33. Was professional status used to influence third parties? Coordination 34. Are there common communications between the various actors? 35. Are there common social, professional or financial connections? 36. Are the male approaches connected to the wider group?
24 | P a g e 33. EVIDENCE AVAILABLE / TO BE PROVIDED The following evidence should be collated and provided where available: • previous police reports and incident numbers; • chronological incident log; • names and descriptions of suspected individuals; • telephone numbers; • email addresses; • social-media accounts; • messages; • WhatsApp/Signal/Telegram communications; • emails; • screenshots; • photographs; • recordings; • CCTV; • witness information; • employment correspondence; • recruitment correspondence; • evidence of employment interference; • evidence of threats; • evidence concerning third-party approaches; • evidence concerning suspected surveillance; • device/account security evidence; • financial records; • cease-and-desist correspondence; • proof of delivery; • evidence concerning professional qualifications/registration; • evidence identifying links between suspected individuals.
25 | P a g e 34. RISK OF ESCALATION The subject considers the matter concerning because the alleged conduct has: • continued for approximately two years; • involved multiple people; • involved repeated close-proximity approaches; • allegedly involved third-party men; • continued following rejection; • allegedly involved threats concerning employment; • allegedly involved attempts to restrict financial independence; • allegedly involved monitoring; • allegedly involved reputational attacks; • allegedly involved pressure towards an unwanted relationship. The subject believes that the alleged combination of reputational smearing and the creation of expectations among men creates a particular risk of hostility when advances are rejected. A formal risk and safeguarding assessment is requested.
26 | P a g e 35. REQUESTED POLICE ACTION The subject respectfully requests that Police Scotland: 1. Formally record this report. 2. Link it to previous reports where appropriate. 3. Review the incidents collectively. 4. Identify the individuals involved. 5. Investigate communications between suspected individuals. 6. Investigate possible third-party/proxy involvement. 7. Investigate alleged employment interference. 8. Investigate suspected monitoring/surveillance. 9. Investigate the alleged smear campaign. 10. Investigate the dissemination of information to men. 11. Assess the alleged racial, gender-based, religious and other discriminatory motives. 12. Consider relevant hate-crime aggravation where supported by evidence. 13. Record political/ideological hostility as a potential motive/context. 14. Conduct an appropriate stalking and safeguarding risk assessment. 15. Consider whether protective orders or other protective measures are appropriate. 16. Provide an appropriate incident/crime reference. 17. Allocate the matter to an appropriate investigating officer/team. 18. Consider specialist stalking and victim-support involvement.
27 | P a g e 36. FINAL REPORTING POSITION The subject's position is that the reported conduct represents a prolonged and potentially coordinated attempt to interfere with her: • safety; • employment; • finances; • reputation; • relationships; • communications; • freedom of movement; • personal autonomy. The subject believes the campaign is not solely an interpersonal dispute. The reported conduct potentially involves overlapping factors relating to: Arab ethnicity + female sex + Muslim/Jewish religious identity + right-wing political identity + refugee status + single status + financial vulnerability + absence of close family support. The subject believes these characteristics have allegedly been used collectively to identify her as vulnerable, damage her reputation, restrict her ability to work, increase financial dependency, influence men against her and pressure her towards a relationship she has repeatedly rejected. The subject is not asking Police Scotland to accept these motives as established facts. The request is for investigators to establish objectively: • why the subject was selected; • who initiated the conduct; • who participated; • what information was circulated; • how information about the subject was obtained; • whether individuals acted together; • whether men were recruited or encouraged to approach her; • whether employment was deliberately obstructed; • whether monitoring occurred; • whether discriminatory hostility was involved; • whether the conduct escalated following rejection; • whether the overall conduct constitutes criminal behaviour.
28 | P a g e The subject has repeatedly rejected the unwanted approaches, established boundaries, reported relevant incidents to police and issued cease-and-desist correspondence. The alleged conduct nevertheless continues. The subject therefore requests a full and coordinated investigation into the conduct, persons involved, communications, suspected motives, discriminatory factors, third-party involvement and ongoing risk, rather than the individual incidents being assessed in isolation.
29 | P a g e FORMAL REQUEST TO POLICE SCOTLAND REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL CRIMINAL OFFENCES, HATE- RELATED AGGRAVATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL BREACHES To: Police Scotland Subject: Request for investigation of alleged coordinated stalking, harassment, intimidation, third- party targeting, reputational attacks, discrimination and interference with employment and personal autonomy Dear Sir/Madam, The reporting person respectfully requests that Police Scotland investigate the conduct described in the accompanying incident report as a potential coordinated course of criminal and discriminatory conduct, rather than treating the individual incidents as unrelated events. The reported conduct has continued for approximately two years and includes alleged stalking, repeated unwanted approaches, monitoring, intimidation, threatening or abusive behaviour, dissemination of allegations to third parties, interference with employment, use of third parties to approach and pressure the woman, and conduct allegedly motivated by race, religion, sex and other characteristics. The reporting person requests that the following Scottish and UK legislation be specifically considered. 1. STALKING — SECTION 39, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND LICENSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 The reporting person requests that Police Scotland investigate whether the reported conduct constitutes the offence of stalking under section 39 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. The Act contains a specific Scottish stalking offence. The reported conduct potentially relevant to section 39 includes: • repeated following; • repeated appearances in proximity to the woman; • monitoring her movements; • monitoring or attempting to monitor communications; • obtaining information concerning where she goes; • obtaining information concerning whom she communicates with; • repeated unwanted approaches; • use of other people to approach her; • persistence after clear rejection; • interference with her personal life; • surveillance-related concerns; • repeated conduct over approximately two years.
30 | P a g e The reporting person specifically asks Police Scotland to consider the course of conduct as a whole, including conduct undertaken directly and conduct allegedly undertaken through third parties. 2. THREATENING OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR — SECTION 38, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND LICENSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2010 The reporting person requests investigation under section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, which creates the offence of threatening or abusive behaviour. The reported conduct potentially relevant to section 38 includes: • threats concerning employment; • threats that violence would be encouraged; • intimidating approaches; • threatening communications; • abusive communications; • behaviour intended to cause fear or alarm; • behaviour allegedly continuing despite clear objections; • intimidating conduct carried out through other individuals. Police are requested to examine whether particular communications or incidents satisfy the statutory test for threatening or abusive behaviour. 3. HARASSMENT — PROTECTION FROM HARASSMENT ACT 1997 The reporting person requests that Police Scotland consider the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, particularly the provisions extending to Scotland. Section 8 provides a right to be free from harassment and addresses a course of conduct amounting to harassment. The reported conduct potentially includes: • persistent unwanted contact; • repeated approaches; • following; • monitoring; • intimidation; • repeated unwanted presence; • interference with personal life; • harassment through third parties;
31 | P a g e • conduct causing alarm or distress. The reporting person also asks that the possibility of a non-harassment order be considered if criminal proceedings result. The Act provides for non-harassment orders and makes breach of such an order an offence. 4. HATE-RELATED AGGRAVATION — HATE CRIME AND PUBLIC ORDER (SCOTLAND) ACT 2021 The reporting person asks Police Scotland to assess every relevant underlying offence for possible prejudice-based aggravation under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. The Act provides for offences to be aggravated by prejudice. The reporting person is an Arab woman with a Muslim/Jewish religious identity. Accordingly, investigators are asked to establish whether any of the alleged conduct was motivated wholly or partly by: • hostility towards Arabs; • hostility towards the woman's ethnic identity; • hostility towards Muslims; • hostility towards Jews; • religious prejudice; • racial or ethnic prejudice. The legislation permits an offence to have more than one relevant aggravation where the evidence supports this. The Scottish Government explains that an offence can, for example, be aggravated by both race and religion. The reporting person therefore asks that race and religion not be treated as merely background information where evidence indicates that they influenced the conduct. 5. RACIAL / ETHNICALLY AGGRAVATED CONDUCT The reporting person specifically requests investigation of whether any harassment, threatening behaviour, assault, property offence or other criminal conduct was accompanied by or motivated by racial/ethnic hostility. The relevant legislation provides mechanisms for prejudice-based aggravation and also contains specific provisions concerning racially aggravated harassment. The investigation should establish whether the woman's Arab identity was: • discussed; • used as an insult; • used to stereotype her;
32 | P a g e • used to influence third parties; • used to justify targeting her; • used in connection with allegations concerning men or money; • used to portray her differently from other women. 6. RELIGIOUSLY AGGRAVATED CONDUCT The reporting person requests that Police Scotland investigate whether any underlying criminal conduct was motivated by hostility concerning her Muslim/Jewish religious identity. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 maintains statutory protections concerning offences aggravated by religious prejudice. The reporting person asks investigators to establish whether her religion was: • discussed by members of the group; • used in derogatory terms; • used to construct narratives about her; • used to influence men or other third parties; • connected to the decision to target her; • connected to harassment or intimidation. 7. SEX / GENDER-BASED HOSTILITY AND MISOGYNY The reporting person asks Police Scotland to consider whether the conduct constitutes or accompanies criminal behaviour motivated by hostility towards her as a woman. The reported conduct is strongly gendered. It allegedly involves portraying the woman as somebody who: • seeks money from men; • would accept a man because of financial circumstances; • should accept a particular man; • can be pressured through financial vulnerability; • should surrender her personal choices concerning relationships. The reporting person asks investigators to determine whether the alleged conduct constitutes criminal offending and, where legally available, whether sex-based hostility is relevant to the offence or its aggravation. The gender component should particularly be investigated where men were allegedly encouraged to approach or pressure the woman and where hostility allegedly increased following her rejection.
33 | P a g e 8. THIRD-PARTY / PROXY OFFENDING The reporting person asks Police Scotland to investigate whether individuals who did not personally approach the woman nevertheless directed, encouraged, facilitated or coordinated conduct carried out by others. The reported pattern is: information supplied to third parties → third-party approaches → rejection → escalation → further approaches or intimidation. The investigation should establish: • who supplied information; • what information was supplied; • who received it; • whether instructions were given; • whether individuals were encouraged to approach her; • whether individuals were encouraged to persist; • whether anyone was encouraged to intimidate her; • whether there was a common plan or coordinated activity. Where evidence establishes participation in an underlying offence, police should consider the appropriate principles of joint criminal liability and participation. 9. CONSPIRACY / COMMON PLAN The reporting person asks Police Scotland to investigate whether the conduct involved a common plan or agreement between multiple individuals. Relevant evidence may include: • communications between suspected participants; • common narratives; • repeated identical allegations; • information being transferred between participants; • coordinated approaches; • timing of incidents; • instructions given to third parties; • escalation following particular events; • common social or professional connections.
34 | P a g e The reporting person does not ask police to assume that a conspiracy exists. She asks that the possibility of coordinated offending be investigated rather than excluded at the outset. 10. UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO DEVICES OR ACCOUNTS The reporting person has concerns that her devices and/or electronic accounts may have been monitored or accessed. If evidence establishes unauthorised access to a computer, telephone, account or computer system, Police Scotland is requested to consider the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and any other applicable legislation. The investigation should consider: • unknown logins; • unfamiliar devices; • password changes; • account-recovery activity; • suspicious applications; • tracking software; • forwarding rules; • unauthorised access; • location tracking; • compromised accounts. The reporting person distinguishes between suspicion of monitoring and proof of unauthorised access and asks that the necessary digital investigation be undertaken. 11. COMMUNICATIONS OFFENCES The reporting person asks that threatening, abusive, intimidating or seriously distressing electronic communications be assessed under whatever communications legislation is applicable to the specific communication. Evidence should include: • exact wording; • sender; • recipient; • date and time;
35 | P a g e • platform; • account information; • screenshots; • metadata where available; • whether the communication was sent directly or through another person. The reporting person asks that communications not be dismissed merely because they were transmitted electronically or through a third party. 12. DEFAMATION — DEFAMATION AND MALICIOUS PUBLICATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2021 The reporting person asks that the alleged smear campaign also be recorded as potentially engaging the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021. The Act reforms Scottish defamation law and provides statutory rules concerning defamatory statements and malicious publication. The reported allegations include statements that the woman: • is looking for money from men; • will settle for a man because of money; • seeks financial support from men; • would choose a man because he can financially support her. The reporting person states that these allegations are false. Where such statements were deliberately communicated to employers, prospective employers, acquaintances or men being encouraged to approach her, the reporting person believes they may have caused reputational and financial harm. The reporting person understands that defamation is principally a civil matter, but asks Police Scotland to consider the allegations as potential evidence of the wider criminal course of conduct where they form part of stalking, harassment, intimidation or another offence. 13. MALICIOUS PUBLICATION The reporting person also asks that investigators identify whether the dissemination of false allegations was connected to an intention to cause financial loss. The reported sequence is: false allegation → dissemination → reputational damage → employment interference → financial loss. The 2021 Act replaced aspects of the former law concerning verbal injury with statutory delicts concerning malicious publication.
36 | P a g e The reporting person understands that this is primarily a civil legal matter and asks that it be distinguished from the criminal allegations. 14. EMPLOYMENT AND RECRUITMENT INTERFERENCE The reporting person asks Police Scotland to investigate allegations that individuals attempted to interfere with her ability to obtain employment. The reported conduct includes alleged attempts to: • prevent her from working; • threaten consequences if she worked; • cause problems at workplaces; • cause employers to dismiss her; • interfere with recruitment; • use professional connections to prevent employment; • circulate damaging allegations to employers or potential employers. There is no need to characterise “employment interference” itself as a standalone offence. Instead, police are asked to determine whether the means used to interfere with employment constituted stalking, threatening behaviour, harassment, malicious communications, fraud, intimidation, discrimination or another offence. 15. EQUALITY ACT 2010 — EMPLOYMENT / RECRUITMENT DISCRIMINATION Where the alleged conduct involves employers, recruiters, professional bodies or service providers, the reporting person asks that the Equality Act 2010 be considered. The potentially relevant protected characteristics include: • race; • religion or belief; • sex; • age and other protected characteristics where applicable. This is particularly relevant if the woman was denied employment, disadvantaged in recruitment or subjected to workplace harassment because of her Arab identity, religion or sex. The reporting person understands that Equality Act claims are generally dealt with through civil/employment law rather than as ordinary criminal charges.
37 | P a g e 16. UNLAWFUL DISCLOSURE / MISUSE OF PERSONAL DATA If personal information concerning the woman was obtained, shared or disclosed unlawfully, the reporting person asks that the circumstances be assessed under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, where applicable. Potentially relevant information includes: • address; • telephone number; • location; • employment information; • financial information; • personal relationships; • religious identity; • communications; • personal contacts. The investigation should establish how third parties acquired information about the woman, particularly where individuals appeared to know information that she had not disclosed to them. 17. ASSAULT OR THREATS OF VIOLENCE Any incident involving physical violence, attempted violence, physical restraint, blocking movement, pushing, grabbing, striking or similar conduct should be treated as a separate potential criminal offence. The reporting person asks Police Scotland to investigate any evidence of: • assault; • attempted assault; • threats of violence; • intimidation; • violence encouraged through third parties. Any photographs, medical evidence, CCTV or witness evidence should be preserved.
38 | P a g e 18. PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INTERFERENCE The allegations concerning interference with food, property, accommodation or belongings should be investigated incident-by-incident. If property was deliberately damaged, taken, destroyed or interfered with, Police Scotland is requested to determine whether the relevant criminal law concerning property offences applies. 19. COERCION / PRESSURE INTO AN UNWANTED RELATIONSHIP The reporting person asks Police Scotland to investigate whether the alleged attempt to force the woman towards a particular man amounts to criminal coercion, intimidation or another offence. The alleged pattern is: identification of a man → information supplied about the woman → expectation that she will accept him → rejection → increased pressure → repeated approaches. The woman has repeatedly rejected the proposed relationships. The reporting person asks that investigators determine whether the conduct crossed the threshold from unwanted social pressure into criminal intimidation, stalking, harassment, threatening behaviour or another offence. If evidence suggests an attempt to force a marriage or civil partnership without free and full consent, the appropriate forced-marriage legislation should also be considered. 20. DOMESTIC ABUSE LEGISLATION The reporting person does not presently assert that the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 applies merely because the conduct is controlling. That legislation principally concerns abusive behaviour towards a partner or ex-partner. If none of the perpetrators were partners or former partners of the woman, the reporting person asks that stalking, harassment and threatening/abusive behaviour legislation instead be considered. 21. PROTECTIVE ORDERS Given the reported duration and escalation, the reporting person asks Police Scotland to consider what protective measures may be available. In particular, consideration should be given to: • a non-harassment order; • stalking-related protective measures; • restrictions on contact; • restrictions on approaching the woman;
39 | P a g e • restrictions concerning specified locations; • other appropriate safeguarding measures. The Protection from Harassment Act provides for non-harassment orders in Scotland. 22. CUMULATIVE LEGAL ASSESSMENT The reporting person respectfully asks Police Scotland not to assess these matters solely as isolated disputes between individuals. The reported conduct potentially demonstrates a cumulative pattern: Targeting → surveillance → smear campaign → employment interference → financial vulnerability → dissemination of allegations to men → unwanted approaches → rejection → escalation → continued stalking and intimidation. The reporting person asks investigators to determine whether this constitutes a coordinated course of criminal conduct, particularly under the Scottish stalking and threatening/abusive behaviour provisions. 23. REQUEST FOR HATE-CRIME ASSESSMENT The reporting person specifically asks that the following potential motivations be recorded and investigated: Race / ethnicity The woman is Arab. Religion The woman has a Muslim/Jewish religious identity. Sex The woman is female and reports strongly gendered harassment. Political identity The woman identifies as politically right-wing and disputes allegations that she is communist, socialist or left-wing. Refugee status The woman is a refugee/asylum applicant who has lived in the UK for approximately ten years. Marital status The woman is single. Financial vulnerability The woman has experienced financial hardship and allegedly had her ability to work interfered with.
40 | P a g e The reporting person asks that these factors be examined individually and cumulatively. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 provides for prejudice aggravation of offences, including where relevant prejudice relates to race or religion. 24. REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE THE MOTIVE The reporting person asks Police Scotland to establish: 1. Why was this particular woman targeted? 2. Who first identified her as a target? 3. Who initiated the allegations about her? 4. Who circulated those allegations? 5. Who told men that she was seeking financial support? 6. Why were particular men encouraged to approach her? 7. Why did the harassment continue after she rejected them? 8. Was her Arab identity discussed? 9. Was her Muslim/Jewish identity discussed? 10. Was her status as a woman discussed? 11. Was her right-wing political identity discussed? 12. Was her refugee status discussed? 13. Was her single status discussed? 14. Was her lack of family support discussed? 15. Was her financial vulnerability deliberately exploited? 16. Was there an organised or coordinated group? 17. Were instructions given to third parties? 18. Was information obtained through surveillance or unauthorised access? 19. Was employment deliberately obstructed? 20. Was the purpose ultimately to force the woman to submit to an unwanted relationship? 25. REQUEST FOR FORMAL INVESTIGATION The reporting person respectfully requests that Police Scotland: • record all relevant incidents; • link related incident numbers;
41 | P a g e • conduct a stalking assessment; • investigate the full course of conduct; • identify all suspected participants; • identify third-party intermediaries; • obtain relevant communications; • investigate suspected surveillance; • investigate threats and intimidating behaviour; • investigate employment interference; • investigate the dissemination of allegations; • assess race and religious prejudice; • assess gender-based hostility; • consider applicable hate-crime aggravations; • investigate whether there was a coordinated plan; • preserve digital and documentary evidence; • consider appropriate protective measures; • consider whether a non-harassment order or other protection is appropriate. 26. IMPORTANT LEGAL QUALIFICATION The reporting person recognises that it is for Police Scotland and the Procurator Fiscal to determine which offences are actually supported by the evidence. The purpose of identifying the legislation is not to instruct police on charging decisions. Rather, the request is that the reported conduct be assessed against all potentially relevant legal provisions and that evidence supporting or disproving each possibility be investigated. In particular, the reporting person asks that stalking, threatening/abusive behaviour and hate- related aggravation not be overlooked merely because individual incidents may appear relatively minor when considered separately. The central concern is the alleged persistent, coordinated and escalating course of conduct. 27. CONCLUSION The reporting person respectfully requests a full investigation into whether the individuals involved have engaged in: stalking; harassment; threatening or abusive behaviour; intimidation; third-party/proxy harassment; coordinated criminal conduct; unauthorised access or monitoring; communications
42 | P a g e offences; discriminatory or hate-related offending; and other offences arising from the individual incidents. The reporting person further requests that potential civil matters concerning defamation, malicious publication, employment discrimination and data protection be clearly distinguished from the criminal allegations, while recognising that evidence of those matters may also be relevant to establishing motive, coordination and the wider course of conduct. The reporting person requests that the matter be assessed as a potentially coordinated and prolonged pattern of conduct, rather than as isolated interpersonal disagreements. Yours faithfully, Legal sources: The principal provisions referred to above are the Scottish stalking and threatening/abusive-behaviour provisions in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, and the Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021.
43 | P a g e FORMAL REQUEST TO POLICE SCOTLAND REQUEST TO CONSIDER ALL APPLICABLE RACIAL, ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS HATE-CRIME LEGISLATION To: Police Scotland Subject: Request for investigation and consideration of all potentially applicable racial, ethnic and religiously aggravated offences Dear Sir/Madam, The reporting person respectfully requests that Police Scotland investigate the circumstances described in her reports and consider all potentially applicable legislation concerning racial, ethnic and religious prejudice, hate crime and aggravated offending. The reporting person does not seek to determine the appropriate criminal charge herself. Rather, she asks that the racial, ethnic and religious dimensions of the reported conduct are formally recorded, investigated and considered alongside the underlying offences. Police Scotland itself recognises that a person can be targeted because of race or religion, and that a person can be targeted because of more than one protected characteristic or a perceived characteristic. Police Scotland also advises that hate crime can include stalking, harassment, threatening behaviour, assault, property damage and online abuse. The reporting person therefore asks that the following legal provisions and related areas of law be considered. 1. HATE CRIME AND PUBLIC ORDER (SCOTLAND) ACT 2021 — SECTION 1 The reporting person requests consideration of section 1 of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, concerning the aggravation of an offence by prejudice. This should be considered in relation to each underlying criminal offence established by the evidence. The reporting person asks Police Scotland to determine whether any offence was aggravated by prejudice relating to: • race; • colour; • nationality; • ethnic or national origins; • religion. The reporting person is an Arab woman and therefore asks that her Arab ethnic identity and ethnic/national origins are specifically considered.
44 | P a g e She also has a Muslim/Jewish religious identity and asks that religious prejudice be considered separately. The reporting person further asks that the investigation establish whether the perpetrators acted on the basis of her actual or perceived identity. 2. RACIAL / ETHNIC PREJUDICE The reporting person asks Police Scotland to investigate whether any part of the alleged campaign was directed against her because she is: • Arab; • of Arab ethnic origin; • perceived to be Arab; • perceived to be Middle Eastern; • a refugee from an Arab background; • associated with an Arab ethnic or national identity. The investigation should consider whether racial or ethnic descriptions, stereotypes or assumptions were used in: • the alleged smear campaign; • communications between the group; • communications to third parties; • approaches by men; • employment interference; • harassment; • stalking; • intimidation; • threats; • attempts to isolate her. The reporting person asks that the racial element not be treated as irrelevant merely because other alleged motives, such as her financial circumstances or relationship status, were also discussed. 3. RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE The reporting person separately asks Police Scotland to consider whether any conduct was motivated by or accompanied by prejudice concerning her religion. The relevant religious identities are:
45 | P a g e • Muslim; • Jewish. The investigation should establish whether either identity, or a perceived religious identity, was referred to, criticised, stereotyped or used in connection with the alleged targeting. The reporting person asks that police investigate whether religious prejudice was: • a motive for selecting her; • used to discredit her; • communicated to other people; • used in the alleged smear campaign; • used to influence men approaching her; • used to interfere with her employment; • used to justify harassment or intimidation. 4. SECTION 3 — RACIALLY AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT The reporting person specifically asks Police Scotland to consider section 3 of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, concerning racially aggravated harassment. This is particularly relevant because the allegations concern an alleged course of conduct extending over a prolonged period, rather than one isolated interaction. The reporting person asks investigators to determine whether the alleged repeated conduct constitutes a racially aggravated course of conduct, including any combination of: • stalking; • repeated unwanted approaches; • monitoring; • intimidation; • dissemination of allegations; • interference with employment; • third-party approaches; • harassment through other people; • conduct following her rejection of unwanted approaches; • conduct intended to cause fear, alarm or distress. The reporting person asks that section 3 be considered independently of any separate aggravation that might apply to individual offences.
46 | P a g e 5. SECTION 1 AND STALKING — SECTION 39 OF THE 2010 ACT The reporting person reports approximately two years of stalking-related conduct. She therefore asks Police Scotland to consider: Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 — section 39 (stalking) together with: Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 — section 1 (prejudice aggravation). The question for investigation should therefore include: Whether any stalking offence was committed and, if so, whether the evidence establishes racial or religious prejudice connected with that offence. The reporting person asks that stalking not be assessed solely incident-by-incident where the evidence indicates a continuing course of conduct. 6. SECTION 1 AND THREATENING OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR — SECTION 38 OF THE 2010 ACT The reporting person also asks Police Scotland to consider: Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 — section 38 (threatening or abusive behaviour) together with any applicable prejudice aggravation under section 1 of the 2021 Act. This should include investigation of allegations that the woman was threatened, intimidated or subjected to behaviour intended to cause fear or alarm because of, or in circumstances involving, racial or religious prejudice. 7. RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE THROUGH THIRD PARTIES A significant feature of the reported conduct is the alleged use of other people to target the woman. The reporting person alleges that information and stories were circulated to men and other individuals, resulting in unwanted approaches and harassment. She therefore asks Police Scotland to investigate whether racial or religious prejudice was communicated through those third parties. The investigation should establish: • who originated the information; • who circulated it; • what was said about the woman's race; • what was said about her religion; • who received the information;
47 | P a g e • whether recipients were encouraged to approach her; • whether recipients were encouraged to persist after rejection; • whether the third parties knew they were participating in a wider campaign. 8. RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS STEREOTYPING The reporting person asks that investigators examine whether the allegations concerning the woman were based upon racial, ethnic or religious stereotypes. In particular, allegations were allegedly circulated portraying her as a woman who: • seeks money from men; • would accept a man because of financial support; • is financially dependent upon men; • should be approached by particular men; • should accept a particular relationship. The reporting person asks investigators to establish whether those allegations were connected to stereotypes concerning Arab, Muslim, Jewish, refugee or Middle Eastern women. The reporting person does not suggest that an allegation about money is automatically a hate crime. The issue is whether racial or religious stereotypes formed part of the motivation, construction or dissemination of the alleged campaign. 9. RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL PREJUDICE AS A MOTIVE The reporting person asks Police Scotland to investigate motive rather than simply the words contained in individual incidents. In particular: Why was this particular woman selected? The investigation should consider whether her: • Arab ethnicity; • religious identity; • status as a refugee; • status as a single woman; • lack of family support; • financial vulnerability; • professional background;
48 | P a g e • gender were identified by the alleged perpetrators as reasons why she could be targeted. Police Scotland's current guidance expressly recognises that a person can be targeted because of race, religion or a combination of characteristics, including perceived characteristics. 10. MULTIPLE PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS The reporting person asks that the investigation consider whether the conduct involved more than one protected characteristic. The alleged targeting should therefore be assessed for possible: racial/ethnic prejudice + religious prejudice + sex-based/gendered hostility. The reporting person understands that not every protected characteristic automatically creates a criminal offence or aggravation. She asks instead that all relevant characteristics be recorded and investigated, so that the Procurator Fiscal can make the appropriate legal determination if criminal proceedings follow. 11. PERCEIVED IDENTITY The reporting person asks Police Scotland to consider not only what her actual identity is, but also what the alleged perpetrators believed her identity to be. This is relevant because Police Scotland's hate-crime guidance recognises targeting based upon a person's perceived characteristic or association. Accordingly, the investigation should consider whether perpetrators believed that she was: • Arab; • Muslim; • Jewish; • Middle Eastern; • associated with a particular ethnic or religious community. 12. STIRRING UP HATRED — HATE CRIME AND PUBLIC ORDER (SCOTLAND) ACT 2021 The reporting person additionally asks Police Scotland to consider, where the statutory requirements are actually met, the relevant provisions of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 concerning stirring up hatred. This should only be considered if the evidence demonstrates the necessary statutory elements. The reporting person is not alleging that ordinary private gossip automatically amounts to stirring up hatred.
49 | P a g e She asks police to establish whether any communications or material: • went beyond allegations about her personally; • targeted a racial or religious group; • were distributed to others; • encouraged hostility towards Arabs, Muslims or Jews; • satisfied the relevant statutory requirements. 13. HISTORICAL CONDUCT The reporting person asks Police Scotland to examine the date of every individual incident. This is important because the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 commenced its relevant provisions on 1 April 2024. Accordingly, if evidence identifies racial or religiously aggravated conduct occurring before that date, the legislation applicable at the time should be considered rather than retrospectively applying the 2021 Act. The reporting person asks police to determine the appropriate historical provisions for any pre-1 April 2024 conduct. 14. FORMER RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS PROVISIONS Where historically applicable, the reporting person asks police to consider the legislation that was in force at the time, including the former provisions concerning: • Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, section 50A — racially aggravated harassment; • Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, section 74 — religious prejudice aggravation. The reporting person understands that these provisions have subsequently been replaced/repealed as part of the 2021 hate-crime framework. They are therefore included only so that historical incidents are assessed under the correct law applicable on their respective dates. 15. EMPLOYMENT INTERFERENCE AND HATE MOTIVE The reporting person further asks Police Scotland to investigate whether alleged interference with her employment was connected to her race, ethnicity or religion. The reported conduct includes allegations that individuals attempted to: • prevent her from obtaining employment; • interfere with recruitment;
50 | P a g e • cause employers to reject her; • damage her professional reputation; • cause her to lose employment; • threaten consequences if she worked. If an underlying criminal offence is established, the reporting person asks police to consider whether it was additionally motivated by racial or religious prejudice. Any separate civil or employment-law issues can be dealt with through the appropriate legal route. 16. EVIDENCE OF RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS MOTIVE The reporting person asks investigators to obtain and preserve evidence capable of establishing motive, including: • messages; • emails; • recordings; • social-media communications; • witness evidence; • communications between members of the alleged group; • communications between the group and third parties; • communications with men who approached the woman; • employment-related communications; • statements concerning her ethnicity; • statements concerning her religion; • statements concerning Arabs; • statements concerning Muslims; • statements concerning Jews. The reporting person asks police to investigate the origin and dissemination of the alleged narratives, rather than examining only the final statement received by the woman. 17. REQUEST FOR HATE-CRIME RECORDING The reporting person asks that the allegations be formally recorded as potentially involving hate- related offending.
51 | P a g e Police Scotland states that a report should be made where a victim believes they have been targeted because of race or religion, and that even where there is insufficient evidence of a criminal offence, a hate incident may still be recorded. The reporting person therefore asks that her perception of racial and religious motivation is formally recorded and that the supporting evidence is investigated. 18. REQUEST FOR FULL LEGAL ASSESSMENT The reporting person respectfully asks Police Scotland to consider, as applicable to the evidence and dates of the incidents: 1. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 — section 1: prejudice aggravation of offences. 2. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 — section 3: racially aggravated harassment. 3. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 — relevant stirring-up-hatred provisions: where the statutory requirements are satisfied. 4. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 — section 38: threatening or abusive behaviour. 5. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 — section 39: stalking. 6. Any applicable assault, property, communications or other criminal offences, with racial/religious aggravation considered where appropriate. 7. The historical legislation applicable to incidents occurring before 1 April 2024, including the former racial and religious aggravation provisions where legally applicable. The reporting person expressly asks that the list above be regarded as a request for consideration, not as an assertion that each offence has been established. 19. REQUEST TO CONSIDER THE ENTIRE COURSE OF CONDUCT Most importantly, the reporting person asks that the racial and religious aspects are considered within the entire course of conduct. The allegation is not that one isolated person made one inappropriate statement. The allegation is that a group has allegedly: identified the woman → circulated allegations about her → exploited characteristics perceived as making her vulnerable → involved third parties → encouraged unwanted approaches → continued after rejection → escalated harassment → interfered with her independence and employment → continued the conduct over an extended period. The reporting person asks Police Scotland to determine whether race, ethnicity or religion formed any part of the motivation for this course of conduct.
52 | P a g e 20. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTORIAL CONSIDERATION The reporting person respectfully requests that Police Scotland: • record the matter as potentially hate-related; • investigate the racial dimension; • investigate the religious dimension; • investigate possible multiple prejudice characteristics; • identify the underlying offences; • assess applicable aggravations; • investigate the alleged third-party coordination; • obtain relevant communications and witness evidence; • establish the dates of individual incidents; • apply the legislation applicable to each incident; • preserve evidence relevant to motive; • and, where the evidential threshold is met, report the appropriate offences and aggravations to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Police Scotland confirms that where sufficient evidence exists, an accused can be charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal, while reports that do not meet the criminal threshold can still be recorded as hate incidents. CONCLUSION The reporting person respectfully asks Police Scotland to conduct a full hate-crime assessment of the circumstances, rather than limiting the investigation to the immediate acts of harassment. The central issue requiring investigation is whether the woman has been targeted, at least in part, because she is Arab and because of her Muslim/Jewish religious identity, and whether those characteristics have been used by the alleged perpetrators in the wider campaign of stalking, harassment, intimidation, reputational attacks and third-party targeting. She asks that all potentially applicable racial and religious provisions be considered according to the evidence and the date of each incident, and that the final legal classification be determined by the appropriate authorities. Yours faithfully,
53 | P a g e Schedule 1 — Full Hate Crime Assessment Requested Area for assessment Reported circumstances requiring investigation Legal / investigative consideration requested Victim characteristics The woman is Arab, a refugee, single, and identifies as Muslim/Jewish. She is living without close family support and is alleged to have been identified as financially and socially vulnerable. Consider whether any of these characteristics, individually or cumulatively, contributed to her selection or treatment. Police Scotland recognises that hate crime may involve race, religion, multiple characteristics or perceived characteristics. (Police Scotland) Racial / ethnic prejudice Alleged targeting of the woman as an Arab woman, including alleged stereotypes concerning Arab/Middle Eastern women, relationships, money and dependence on men. Consider Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.1, including prejudice relating to race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins. Religious prejudice The woman's Muslim/Jewish religious identity may have formed part of the alleged targeting, stereotyping or hostility. Consider s.1 of the 2021 Act in relation to religious prejudice and establish whether religious malice or ill- will formed part of any underlying offence. Multiple characteristics The alleged targeting combines ethnicity, religion, gender, refugee status, single status and perceived financial vulnerability. Assess racial and religious prejudice separately and cumulatively, rather than assuming one possible motive excludes another. Perceived identity The perpetrators may have acted according to what they believed about the woman's ethnicity or religion. Consider actual and perceived racial/ethnic/religious identity when assessing motive and hate-related conduct. Stalking Approximately two years of alleged stalking/monitoring, including monitoring movements, communications, contacts and repeated unwanted approaches. Consider Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, s.39, and whether any established stalking offence is additionally aggravated by racial/religious prejudice. Police Scotland describes stalking as a pattern of two or more behaviours causing, intending or recklessly causing fear or alarm. (Police Scotland) Harassment Repeated conduct allegedly continuing over an extended period, including unwanted approaches, intimidation, monitoring, reputational attacks and third-party involvement. Consider harassment offences and, specifically, Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.3 — racially aggravated harassment, where the statutory requirements are met. Threatening / abusive behaviour Alleged intimidation, threats, aggressive approaches and conduct intended to frighten, pressure or control the woman. Consider Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, s.38, together with any applicable racial/religious aggravation under s.1 of the 2021 Act. Racially aggravated course of conduct Alleged repeated racial/ethnic targeting forming part of a continuing campaign rather than an isolated incident. Consider Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.3 and whether the evidence establishes a racially aggravated course of conduct amounting to harassment.
54 | P a g e Smear campaign Allegations were allegedly circulated portraying the woman as seeking money from men and intending to obtain financial support through relationships. Investigate whether the allegations were deliberately constructed or disseminated using racial, ethnic, religious or gender stereotypes and whether they formed part of criminal harassment or another offence. Third-party / proxy harassment Alleged group members reportedly communicated stories about the woman to men, resulting in approaches and alleged aggression after rejection. Investigate who originated the information, who circulated it, who acted on it, and whether participants knowingly assisted, encouraged or facilitated offending. Incitement of male aggression Allegations were allegedly presented to men in a manner likely to encourage them to approach the woman and react aggressively when rejected. Investigate whether this constitutes threatening/abusive behaviour, harassment, stalking, participation in another offence, or other criminal conduct; assess any hate motivation. Control of relationship choices The group allegedly attempted to push the woman towards a particular man and continued after she rejected the proposal. Investigate whether this forms part of stalking, harassment, threatening behaviour, coercive conduct or another offence. Employment interference Alleged attempts to prevent employment, interfere with recruitment, damage professional reputation or cause dismissal. Investigate whether any criminal offence was committed and whether racial/religious prejudice aggravated the conduct. Any separate employment discrimination issues may require a separate legal route. Financial vulnerability The alleged perpetrators reportedly exploited the woman's lack of family support and financial vulnerability while simultaneously portraying her as dependent upon men. Investigate whether financial vulnerability was deliberately exploited as part of the wider harassment/control mechanism and whether it contributed to motive. Online / communications conduct Potential communications, messages, social- media activity and information circulated about the woman. Preserve and investigate relevant electronic evidence and consider any applicable communications or other offences. Stirring up hatred If communications went beyond allegations about the individual and encouraged hatred against Arabs, Muslims, Jews or another protected group, further assessment may be required. Consider Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.4 and related provisions, only where the statutory requirements are satisfied. Historical incidents Some conduct may require assessment according to the date on which it occurred. Determine the date of each incident and apply the legislation legally applicable at that time. The 2021 Act commenced on 1 April 2024 and should not be applied retrospectively. Evidence of motive The alleged campaign appears to involve repeated narratives, third-party communications and coordinated behaviour. Investigate messages, emails, recordings, CCTV, witnesses, employment communications, communications between alleged group members and communications with third parties.
55 | P a g e Coordination / common purpose The allegations describe a group allegedly acting together over an extended period. Establish the identity and role of each participant and whether individuals aided, encouraged, procured, incited, attempted or conspired to commit any offence. Persistence after rejection The woman reportedly established clear boundaries, rejected approaches and reported harassment, yet the alleged conduct continued. Consider whether persistence after rejection forms evidence of stalking, harassment, threatening behaviour, intimidation or coordinated conduct. Cease-and- desist notices The woman reportedly sent letters requiring the alleged conduct to stop. Investigate whether conduct continued after receipt of those notices and whether this provides evidence concerning knowledge, intention, persistence or recklessness. Overall hate- crime assessment The alleged conduct is described as a prolonged campaign involving race/ethnicity, religion, gender, vulnerability, stalking, harassment, third-party targeting and intimidation. Police Scotland is requested to assess the entire course of conduct, identify every underlying offence supported by evidence, and consider the appropriate racial/religious hate-crime aggravation for each. Prosecutorial consideration The reporting person does not seek to determine the final criminal charges herself. Where evidence supports criminal proceedings, report the relevant offences and any applicable hate aggravations to COPFS/Procurator Fiscal for determination.
56 | P a g e Requested police classification Requested assessment Request Race / ethnicity Assess as potential racial/ethnic hate-related offending. Religion Assess as potential religiously aggravated offending. Multiple characteristics Consider race and religion separately and cumulatively, including perceived identity. Stalking Assess under s.39 Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. Threatening/abusive behaviour Assess under s.38 Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. Racially aggravated harassment Assess under s.3 Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. Prejudice aggravation Consider s.1 Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 for every underlying offence where the evidence supports it. Stirring up hatred Consider s.4 and related provisions where the statutory threshold is met. Third-party offending Investigate possible aiding, encouraging, procuring, inciting, attempting or conspiracy where supported by evidence. Full investigation Assess the conduct as a potentially connected course of conduct rather than isolated incidents. Final determination Leave the ultimate charging and prosecution decision to Police Scotland/COPFS on the basis of the evidence.
57 | P a g e Aggravating / Hate-Crime Factors for Police Assessment No. Aggravating factor What the police should investigate Potential legal relevance 1 Arab ethnicity / race Whether the woman was selected, targeted, insulted, stereotyped or treated differently because she is Arab, or because the alleged perpetrators perceived her to be Arab. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.1 — racial prejudice aggravation where the statutory requirements are met. 2 Ethnic / national origins Whether comments, assumptions or treatment referred to her ethnic or national origins and whether these formed part of the alleged offending. 2021 Act, s.1 — race includes ethnic or national origins. 3 Religion Whether her Muslim/Jewish religious identity, or perceived religious identity, was referred to, attacked, stereotyped or used as part of the alleged conduct. 2021 Act, s.1 — religious prejudice aggravation where the statutory requirements are met. 4 Actual or perceived identity Whether perpetrators acted because they believed the woman was Arab, Muslim, Jewish or belonged to another protected group, regardless of whether their belief was factually correct. The 2021 Act can take account of presumed/perceived characteristics. 5 Racial stereotypes Whether stereotypes concerning Arab, Middle Eastern or other ethnic identity were used in the stories circulated about the woman. Potential evidence of racial prejudice or malice/ill-will connected with an underlying offence. 6 Religious stereotypes Whether Muslim/Jewish or other religious stereotypes were used to portray the woman negatively or influence other people against her. Potential evidence of religious prejudice connected with an underlying offence. 7 Gender combined with protected characteristics Whether allegations about the woman being a woman, being single or allegedly seeking financial support from men were combined with racial or religious stereotypes. Investigate whether gender-based conduct forms part of the wider offending and whether race/religion additionally aggravated an underlying offence. 8 Targeting because of vulnerability Whether the woman's refugee status, lack of family support, financial circumstances or single status were deliberately identified and exploited. May provide evidence of motive, targeting and vulnerability, although these circumstances are not themselves automatically hate-crime characteristics.
58 | P a g e 9 Stalking with prejudice element Whether alleged stalking was connected with racial or religious prejudice. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, s.39, potentially with 2021 Act, s.1 aggravation where supported by evidence. 10 Threatening / abusive behaviour with prejudice element Whether threats or abusive conduct were connected to the woman's ethnicity or religion. 2010 Act, s.38, potentially aggravated under 2021 Act, s.1. 11 Racially aggravated harassment Whether repeated harassment formed a continuing course of racially aggravated conduct. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.3, where the statutory requirements are established. 12 Repeated racial/religious references Whether prejudice was expressed repeatedly rather than being an isolated reference. May assist in establishing the connection between the protected characteristic and the underlying conduct. 13 Group activity Whether members of the group shared prejudicial stories, encouraged one another or coordinated conduct against the woman. Investigate individual roles and whether any underlying offences were aided, encouraged or otherwise facilitated. 14 Third-party men Whether racial, religious or gender- based stories were given to men who subsequently approached or harassed the woman. May provide evidence of motive, coordination, encouragement or participation in underlying offending. 15 Conduct after rejection Whether the alleged conduct continued or escalated after the woman clearly rejected approaches and requested that people stop. Relevant to stalking, harassment, threatening behaviour and the overall course of conduct; prejudice must still be separately evidenced. 16 Smear campaign Whether allegations that the woman was seeking money from men were deliberately created or circulated using racial, religious or gender stereotypes. Potential evidence concerning motive and prejudice; the specific underlying offence must be established. 17 Inciting hostility Whether information was deliberately given to others in a manner intended to provoke hostility, aggression or offending against the woman. Investigate possible underlying offences and any participation/encouragement; consider hate aggravation where legally supported. 18 Stirring up hatred Whether any material went beyond allegations about the individual and legally amounted to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour intended or likely to stir up hatred against a protected group. Consider 2021 Act, s.4 and related provisions, only if the specific statutory requirements are satisfied.
59 | P a g e 19 Multiple prejudice grounds Whether both racial and religious prejudice were present in the same or connected conduct. Consider each aggravation separately and cumulatively where the evidence supports it. 20 Evidence of prejudice Messages, recordings, witness statements, social-media material, communications between participants and statements made to third parties. Evidence required to establish the relevant statutory aggravation. 21 Victim's perception Record the woman's belief that race and/or religion contributed to the targeting and investigate the basis for that belief. The victim's perception should be recorded and investigated, but does not by itself prove the statutory aggravation. 22 Overall motive Whether prejudice was wholly or partly connected with the alleged offending. Central question for 2021 Act, s.1 prejudice aggravation. 23 Entire course of conduct Consider stalking, harassment, threats, rumours, third-party approaches, employment interference and alleged coordination together rather than as unrelated events. May reveal connections and evidence of motive that are not apparent from individual incidents. 24 Date of each incident Establish when each alleged offence occurred. The 2021 Act commenced on 1 April 2024; earlier conduct must be assessed under the law applicable at the relevant time. 25 Final legal assessment Identify the underlying offence first, then determine whether the evidence establishes the required racial or religious aggravation. Final classification should be based on evidence and the applicable statutory tests, with prosecution decisions made by the appropriate authorities.
60 | P a g e Requested police assessment Question Assessment requested Was there an underlying offence? Identify whether the evidence establishes stalking, harassment, threatening/abusive behaviour or another offence. Was race relevant? Investigate whether Arab ethnicity, ethnic/national origins or perceived Arab identity contributed to the offending. Was religion relevant? Investigate whether Muslim/Jewish identity or perceived religious identity contributed to the offending. Were there multiple prejudices? Consider racial and religious prejudice independently and together. Was the conduct coordinated? Establish whether group members or third parties knowingly participated, encouraged or facilitated the conduct. Was prejudice connected to the offending? Determine whether the evidence satisfies the statutory test for hate-crime aggravation. Was there a continuing course of conduct? Assess the incidents cumulatively, particularly in relation to stalking and harassment. Was hate-related material circulated more widely? Consider whether any conduct meets the separate legal requirements for stirring up hatred. What should happen next? Record the appropriate offences and aggravations supported by evidence and refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutorial authority where required. Core assessment requested: The police are asked to determine not merely what the group allegedly did, but whether any established criminal conduct was aggravated by racial or religious prejudice against the woman because of her actual or perceived Arab ethnicity and Muslim/Jewish religious identity, and whether the evidence demonstrates one or more connected courses of hate-aggravated offending.
61 | P a g e Alleged Coordinated Conduct and Potential Scottish Criminal Law: The reporting person requests that the police investigate whether the alleged participants acted independently or pursuant to a coordinated plan, including whether any individual knowingly aided, abetted, counselled, procured, incited, encouraged or otherwise participated in criminal conduct committed by another person, and whether the evidence establishes any applicable art- and-part, conspiracy, attempt or other form of secondary or joint liability. The investigation should further consider whether any underlying offending was racially or religiously aggravated under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. No. Alleged conduct What should be investigated Potential law / legal principle 1 People allegedly acting together Whether individuals were knowingly coordinating their actions against the woman rather than acting independently. Art and part liability under Scots criminal law may be relevant where a person participates in the commission of an offence. 2 Encouraging another person to offend Whether a group member encouraged, instructed, persuaded or incited another person to stalk, threaten, harass or otherwise offend against the woman. Potential aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting liability, depending on the underlying offence. 3 Using third parties Whether individuals deliberately used other people to carry out conduct they wanted directed at the woman. Potential participation / secondary liability; each person's knowledge and role should be established. 4 Directing men towards the woman Whether men were given information about the woman and encouraged to approach her, particularly after she had made clear that she did not want contact. Investigate possible incitement, encouragement or participation in any underlying offence. 5 Supplying stories to men Who originated the allegations about the woman, who transmitted them and whether the information was deliberately provided to cause men to approach or pressure her. Potential evidence of motive, coordination and participation in underlying offending.
62 | P a g e 6 Continuing after an explicit refusal Whether participants knew the woman had rejected the approaches and asked them to stop, but continued or encouraged others to continue. Potential s.38 threatening/abusive behaviour or s.39 stalking, depending on the evidence. (Legislation.gov.uk) 7 Coordinated stalking Whether different people carried out repeated acts which formed part of a continuing course of conduct directed at the woman. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, s.39 — stalking. The section concerns a course of conduct causing fear or alarm with the required intention/knowledge. (Legislation.gov.uk) 8 Coordinated threatening or abusive conduct Whether different individuals communicated threats, abuse or frightening material as part of a connected campaign. 2010 Act, s.38 — threatening or abusive behaviour. The provision covers behaviour including things said, communicated or done, including a course of conduct. (Legislation.gov.uk) 9 Common criminal purpose / agreement Whether two or more people reached an agreement to pursue a criminal objective. Conspiracy / common-law principles, where the particular legal requirements are satisfied. This should not be alleged merely because people know one another. 10 Attempting an offence together Whether participants took steps towards committing an offence even where the intended offence was not completed. Attempt may be relevant depending on the particular offence and evidence. 11 Aiding or assisting Whether a person supplied information, transport, communications, access, instructions or other assistance knowing that it would facilitate an offence. Potential aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting liability. Scottish legislation expressly recognises these forms of ancillary criminal conduct in relevant contexts. (Legislation.gov.uk) 12 Inciting another person Whether someone deliberately encouraged another person to commit an offence against the woman. Potential incitement liability, depending on the underlying offence and applicable law. (Legislation.gov.uk) 13 Different roles within one alleged campaign Whether one person spread allegations, another identified potential men, another contacted them and another approached the woman. Police should identify the individual contribution and mental state of each person rather than treating the group as one undifferentiated entity. 14 Group harassment Whether repeated conduct by different people formed a connected pattern of harassment or intimidation. Investigate whether the conduct establishes s.38 or s.39 offences and whether individual participants can be linked to the course of conduct. (Legislation.gov.uk)
63 | P a g e 15 Racially aggravated coordination Whether coordination involved hostility or prejudice because the woman is Arab or is perceived to be Arab. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.1 — aggravation of an underlying offence by racial prejudice, where the statutory requirements are met. 16 Religiously aggravated coordination Whether coordination involved hostility or prejudice because of her religion or perceived religion. 2021 Act, s.2 — aggravation of an offence by prejudice relating to religion, where the statutory requirements are met. 17 Racially aggravated harassment Whether the alleged continuing harassment was racially motivated/aggravated. 2021 Act, s.3 — racially aggravated harassment. Sections 1–3 of the Act came into force on 1 April 2024. (Legislation.gov.uk) 18 Stirring up hatred Whether communications went beyond rumours about an individual and satisfy the specific statutory requirements for stirring up hatred against a protected group. 2021 Act, ss.4–10, depending on the characteristic and conduct. This should only be considered where the statutory test is actually met. (Legislation.gov.uk) 19 Multiple aggravating characteristics Whether both racial/ethnic and religious prejudice were involved in the same underlying criminal conduct. Police should assess each potential aggravation separately, as well as considering whether both are supported by the evidence. 20 Coordinated conduct after cease-and-desist notices Whether individuals knew that the woman had formally demanded that the conduct stop and nevertheless continued or encouraged others to continue. Potentially relevant evidence for knowledge, intention, persistence and course of conduct in relation to stalking/harassment. 21 Evidence of coordination Communications between participants, telephone records where lawfully obtainable, messages, emails, witnesses, CCTV, social-media material, timing and repeated information. Evidence relevant to establishing participation, knowledge, intent and connections between individuals. 22 Police assessment of each participant Identify what each person personally did, knew, intended and communicated. Criminal responsibility should be assessed person by person, rather than assuming that membership of a social group establishes criminal liability.
64 | P a g e Legal framework for the police to consider 1. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, s.38 — threatening or abusive behaviour. 2. Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, s.39 — stalking. 3. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.1 — aggravation of an offence by racial prejudice. 4. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.2 — aggravation by prejudice relating to religion. 5. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, s.3 — racially aggravated harassment. 6. Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, ss.4–10 — stirring-up-hatred offences, where their specific statutory requirements are satisfied. 7. Scottish principles of art and part / participation, including aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting where applicable. 8. Attempt / conspiracy, where the applicable legal requirements are established