Threatening communications

8Section 6: interpretation

1

Subsections (2) to (5) define expressions used in section 6.

2

“Communicates” means communicates by any means (other than by means of unrecorded speech); and related expressions are to be construed accordingly.

3

“Material” means anything that is capable of being read, looked at, watched or listened to, either directly or after conversion from data stored in another form.

4

“Hatred on religious grounds” means hatred against—

a

a group of persons based on their membership (or presumed membership) of—

i

a religious group (within the meaning given by section 74(7) of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7)),

ii

a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation, or

b

an individual based on the individual’s membership (or presumed membership) of a group mentioned in either of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (a).

5

“Seriously violent act” means an act that would cause serious injury to, or the death of, a person.

6

In subsection (4)—

a

“membership”, in relation to a group, includes association with members of that group, and

b

“presumed” means presumed by the person making the communication.