In the UK, hate crimes that target people on the grounds of their sexuality or gender identity, or a disability will become aggravated offences under a proposed new law.
A bill eyes to amend the Crimes and Policing Bill to make any crime that specifically targets victims with those characteristics as “aggravated offences”, and – as such – will carry a higher penalty.
Currently, crimes found to include an element of hostility against a person’s LGBTQIA+ or disability status can only be acknowledged as “aggravated” with an “uplift”, which then increases the sentence on a broader charge such as assault.
The new amendment will set them out as defined charges within their own right, which comes with a higher maximum sentencing penalty.
If/when passed, this will bring these offences in line with those committed on the grounds of race and religion, which already have defined charges, such as racially-aggravated disorderly behavior.
Aside from sexuality, gender identity and disability, this same amendment eyes to also cover victims targeted because of their sex.
The bill is currently progressing through the House of Lords and is not yet law. It will apply to England and Wales.
