Hate Crime Laws Under Scrutiny

The Law Commission for England and Wales has launched a review of hate crime legislation with a view to making laws tougher on those found guilty of offenses motivated by reason of disability, sexual orientation or gender.

The review will look at whether ‘aggravated’ offences, which are currently prosecuted under the Crime and Disorder Act 1988, should be extended to disability and gender-related crime.

Law Change

Disability groups have long campaigned for the laws on aggrevated offences and stirring-up hatred to be extended to disability-related offences.

Katherine Quarmby, a coordinator of the Disability Hate Crime Network, and author of Scapegoat, a ground-breaking investigation into disability hate crime, said the Law Commission review was “really quite significant”.

She suggested new laws on inciting hatred of disabled people could persuade the media to “think twice” before writing stories that could stir up hostility.

Quarmby commented: “I think people would be much more careful of causing offence if they knew there was a possible criminal action.”

Damian Green, the Conservative justice minister, said: “All hate crimes are deplorable; they leave people living in fear of unprovoked attacks and violence.  We are pleased that the Law Commission has been able to take on this review and look forward to receiving their report.”

The Commission’s report will be published in Spring 2014, for consideration by Parliament.