Scotland’s first minister defends Hate Crime Act amid barrage of criticism

Police union chief says enforcing law will lessen public trust in policing, while JK Rowling dares force to arrest her

Scotland's first minister has described his new hate crime law as absolutely balanced" on the day the controversial legislation came into force amid a barrage of criticism.

Humza Yousaf's comments came as David Kennedy, the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said enforcing the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 would reduce public trust in policing and the author JK Rowling, a prominent critic of the legislation, dared the police to arrest her for misgendering.