Police Scotland has come under fire after deciding that an allegedly anti-Semitic image of Dame Maureen Lipman did not constitute a hate crime. The Mail revealed last month that the force was reviewing a Facebook photograph depicting the actress with red devil's horns and a trident, posted by pro-Palestine activists who called for her removal from a play. This incident has raised alarm within Scotland's Jewish community.
Background of the Incident
The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), which shared the image, encouraged supporters to sign a petition demanding that the 80-year-old actress, often described as a 'national treasure', be prevented from performing. Police have logged the photograph as a non-crime hate incident, meaning officers deemed it fell short of criminal activity, though details remain on file. This decision comes despite the Hate Crime Act, which came into effect in 2024 and introduced new offences related to 'stirring up hatred'. The Act criminalises the 'communication of threatening or abusive material intended to stir up hatred against a group of people'.
Community Reaction
Timothy Lovat, chairman of the Jewish Council of Scotland, who reported the image to police, expressed his frustration: 'I had a meeting with the Chief Constable last week and she told me this was the case. I don't understand what a non-crime hate incident is – if it is a hate incident, then in my humble opinion it should be a crime.' He claimed there was a 'reluctance from Police Scotland to charge people with these sorts of crimes', adding: 'Until there is a conscious effort from all parties to put a stop to this anti-Semitic hate, then the Jewish community in Scotland will remain unsafe in their own homes.'
Details of the Incident
Dame Maureen performed at His Majesty's Theatre (HMT) in Aberdeen from May 26-30 in a touring comedy called Allegra, by Peter Quilter. The SPSC launched an online petition titled 'Stop Maureen Lipman Performing at HMT Aberdeen', while the SPSC in Aberdeen posted the image of Dame Maureen with devil's horns. In medieval Christian folklore and artwork, Jews were often depicted with grotesque features such as devil's horns and other Satanic characteristics.
Police Response
Last month, a Police Scotland spokesman told the Mail: 'We have received a report [regarding the Dame Maureen post] which is being assessed. Officers are also liaising with partners and continue to proactively engage with the Jewish community.' Mr Lovat at the time described the post as 'absolutely anti-Semitic and disgusting – this is the kind of thing which is leading to anti-Semitic attacks on our streets'.
SPSC's Stance
Last month, the SPSC stated: 'Over the past decade Lipman has openly voiced extremist, Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab views. Write to Aberdeen Performing Arts [the taxpayer-funded charity which runs HMT] and make it clear: racists are not welcome here.' People signing the online petition could send a pro forma letter to the arts charity claiming 'Lipman's positions are clear'.
Dame Maureen's Comments
Dame Maureen recently told LBC that she believes anti-Semitism in the UK has reached levels akin to the pogroms in Nazi Germany in 1933, following the stabbings of two Jewish men in Golders Green, London. The former Coronation Street star, who declined to comment on this incident, also called for a ban on pro-Palestine marches in London. The SPSC was also approached for comment.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'The social media content has been assessed and recorded as a non-crime hate incident.' The force would not comment on why the image was not being treated as a crime.
