Independent report

Hate crime laws: Final report

Reforms to hate crime laws to make them fairer, and to protect women for the first time.

• From: Law Commission
• Published: 7 December 2021

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Hate crime laws: Final report

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-3067-2, HC 942

PDF, 3.2 MB, 556 pages

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Details

The Law Commission published recommendations to reform hate crime legislation to ensure that disabled and LGBT+ victims receive the same protections as victims with other protected characteristics (race and religion). If enacted, the reforms would ensure all five characteristics are protected equally by the law.

The Commission is also making a number of recommendations to protect women and girls. This includes extending the offence of stirring up hatred (behaviour that incites others to hate entire groups) to cover sex or gender and has recommended that the government consider the need for a new offence to tackle public sexual harassment.

Whilst enhancing protection for victims of targeted abuse, the Commission has also made a number of recommendations to safeguard freedom of expression and ensure the criminal law is focussed on the most egregious hate speech.

Further details can be found on the Law Commission website.

Published 7 December 2021