Victims of hate crime are being urged to take part in an independent review of laws covering the offence in Scotland, including controversial legislation governing offensive behaviour at football.

Judge Lord Bracadale is chairing the review to look at whether new hate crime laws are needed, if current laws are appropriate and consistent, and if they need to be simplified or rationalised through a single hate crime act.

The review, announced by Scottish ministers in January, is also examining whether new laws should be created covering age and gender hate crimes.

Despite being defeated at Holyrood on a vote calling for the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act to be scrapped, the Government has said it will not repeal it without a "viable alternative".

Lord Bracadale is calling on hate crime victims and legal professionals to give their views on the overall legislation and has launched an online questionnaire to gather evidence.

The survey asks respondents how they define hate crime, if they have experienced it and, if so, what impact it had on them.

He has also set up a reference group to provide expert advice, including former Police Scotland deputy chief constable Steve Allen and ex-justice minister Cathy Jamieson.

The nine-strong team also involves high-profile lawyers and academics, as well as senior figures at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Victim Support Scotland.

Lord Bracadale said: "I am keen to reach out to a wide variety of interested parties to hear more about what they understand hate crime to be and how they have been affected by it, in order to ensure that the consultation paper which I will issue in the summer addresses these issues comprehensively and moves the discussion forward.

"I have devised a short questionnaire which I would encourage anyone with an interest in this topic to complete.

"In my early work on the review, I have been struck by how important it is that the criminal justice system is able to provide effective protection for individuals and communities affected by hate crime."

Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs Annabelle Ewing urged people to fill out the survey.

She said: "Racism, intolerance and prejudice of all kinds are a constant threat to society, and while Scotland is an open and inclusive nation, we are not immune from that threat.

"While we already have robust and comprehensive laws in place, we need to make sure that legislation is up-to-date and able to counter all forms of hate crime.

"I am very pleased that Lord Bracadale is taking forward a review of this legislation and is carrying out a robust engagement exercise to obtain information and evidence about how hate crime is understood, what its impact is, and how effectively the current law deals with it."

The final report is expected early next year.