Home Department written question – answered at on 17 March 2005.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to counter racism against Sikh and Muslim communities.
holding answer
We are committed to tackling racist behaviour wherever it occurs and in whatever form. The Government introduced in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 nine new racially aggravated offences which carry higher maximum penalties where there is evidence of a racist motive or racial hostility in connection with the offence. The offences include assaults, verbal abuse and harassment and criminal damage. For these purposes Sikhs and Jews have been deemed by the courts to be racial groups.
The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 expanded these provisions to cover religiously—as well as racially—aggravated offences, thereby affording the same protection against attacks to religious groups such as Muslims and Christians.
Under the same Act the maximum penalty for incitement to racial hatred, an offence under Part III of the Public Order Act 1986, was increased from two to seven years' imprisonment. This offence makes it unlawful to use threatening, abusive or insulting language with the intention or likelihood that racial hatred would be stirred up.
The Home Secretary has announced that as part of its Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, the Government are proposing extending this offence to afford the same protection against incitement to hatred to faith communities including Muslims.
The Association of Chief Police Officers is updating its guidance to forces on dealing with hate crime and the Crown Prosecution Service has made clear in its published policy its determination to deal robustly with racial and religious hate crime.
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