PEOPLE who murder disabled or transgender people in hate crime attacks will face life sentences with a starting point of 30 years.
The Ministry of Justice plans to amend the Criminal Justice Act 2003 so that murders motivated by hatred or hostility towards disabled or transgender victims will have the same starting point as for murders aggravated by race, religion and sexual orientation.
This will double the current starting point for disability and transgender hate crime murders.
The Act will also be updated so that where any offence is shown to be motivated by hostility towards the victim on the grounds of transgender, as well as race, religion, sexual orientation, and disability, sentences must be made more severe.
This will mean all five monitored strands of hate crime will be reflected equally in these provisions.
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said:
“Hate crimes are abhorrent. They leave sections of society living in fear and at risk of unprovoked violence. The courts already treat all hate crime seriously and aggravate sentences accordingly. These proposals make clear offenders should be in no doubt that they face a more severe sentence for these unacceptable crimes.”
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said:
“There is no excuse for any form of hate crime and that is why we are strengthening the law to protect all those at particular risk of unprovoked violence.
“These plans send out a strong message to victims and perpetrators. Hate crimes against transgender and disabled people will be treated seriously and offenders will face the full force of the law.”
The changes will be made as part of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Bill currently progressing through Parliament.
Amendments covering the new changes will be brought forward at Lords Committee stage.
