Rachel has tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would introduce tougher sentences for hate crimes committed against LGBT people and people with disabilities.

Tabling the amendment, Rachel 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.

The new law, if passed by MPs, would 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 carry tougher sentences for perpetrators.

The amendment has attracted strong cross-party support, with more than 50 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens already backing it. The amendment will be debated on Wednesday 18^th June, with the possibility of a vote straight after.

Rachel said:

“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. We must treat these offences with the seriousness they deserve.

 

“Everyone in our community deserves strong protection from violence and hatred, so I will be continuing to urge more MPs to back my amendment and make this important and long overdue change to the law to protect my constituents and people across the country.”