§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are considering the merits and potential benefits of a review of existing legislation giving protection against racial hatred and racially aggravated crimes; whether parliamentary post-legislative scrutiny would throw light on any need for new protection for religious minorities. [HL2027]
§ Lord RookerThe Government have commissioned reseach on the implementation of the laws on racially-aggravated offences contained in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The research will be published in due course.
The Government have given detailed consideration to the question of amendments to the legislation on incitement to racial hatred and racially-aggravated offences in the context of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act which last week received Royal Assent. Under this Act, the maximum penalty available to the courts for the offence of incitement to racial hatred has been increased from two to seven years. It is also now an offence to incite hatred against a racial group abroad as well as in this country. In addition, the Act expands the existing provisions on racially-aggravated offences to cover offences motivated by religious hostility.
The Government have not ruled out the possibility of a further review of the law to consider whether religious or other groups might be offered the same kind of protection as exists for racial groups. However, there are no current plans to undertake such a review.