MPs strengthen law on hate crimes following campaign backed by Sarah Champion
SARAH Champion, the MP for Rotherham, has expressed her delight that a new law to equalise hate crime laws for LGBT+ and disabled people has now been passed by MPs.
The change is one she has campaigned on for a decade and she also welcomed the government’s move to introduce a new crime of hate motivated by misogyny for the first time.
Last year, Ms Champion signed an amendment tabled by Rachel Taylor MP to the Crime and Policing Bill that would introduce tougher sentences for hate crimes committed against LGBT+ and disabled people. Ms Taylor said it was long overdue that such crimes were treated with the same level of seriousness in law as hate crimes committed on the grounds of race and religion.
Ms Taylor’s campaign was backed by 104 cross-party MPs including Ms Champion who added her name to the amendment ahead of a debate on the Crime and Policing Bill.
During that debate, Ms Taylor said: “We must have hate crime laws that show that whether it is your race or your religion, your sexual orientation, your gender identity, or indeed your disability, that Britain is a country that will not tolerate it. That all hatred is equal. And that all those who commit vile acts of hatred will face the same grave consequences.”
The new law – introduced via a government amendment – will make serious crimes motivated by prejudice against anyone because of their disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity “aggravated” offences – as is currently the case for hate crimes motivated by race or religion. Aggravated offences are more serious offences that carry tougher sentences for perpetrators.
Sarah Champion said: “I was proud to back this campaign to strengthen hate crime law and demonstrate that there is no legal hierarchy when it comes to abuse. It has always seemed perverse that abuse suffered by disabled or LGBT people gets a lesser sentence in court. I've campaigned to change this for over a decade, so I’m delighted it has finally been adopted.
"Nobody in Rotherham should face hatred or violence because of who they are. Perpetrators of this vile abuse need to know the time for getting a lesser sentence for some forms of intimidation is over; you now have nowhere to hide. This new law is an important step forward for ensuring that everyone in our community can be who they are without having to fear violence or abuse.”
Rachel Taylor MP, Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, said: “It’s shocking that between March 2023 - 2024, over 40,000 hate crimes against people in Britain because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity, or disability were recorded by the police. Victims deserve to have these crimes treated every bit as seriously in law as hate crimes based on race and religion."