Hate crime legislation independent review: consultation (easy-read)

Racially aggravated harassment and behaviour

There is also a specific offence for racially aggravated harassment and behaviour.

If someone commits a crime because they strongly dislike the victim's race, they can get a tougher punishment.

This offence was created because of concerns that the problems of racial harassment and racially motivated violence were not treated seriously enough by the courts.

It could be that the type of behaviour covered by the racially aggravated harassment offence would already be covered by the existing statutory aggravations.

At the moment, there is only a specific harassment offence for race, and no separate offence for harassment aggravated by religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

Question 4

Should there be a specific harassment offence for groups other than race?

Yes / No

Please tell us why?