New law to crack down on hate crime

Wednesday 02 August 2017

A new law is being drafted to improve legislation which deals with hate crime and public order offences.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Deputy Kristina Moore, has instructed Officers to draft a law which she hopes will provide a “more watertight system” for people reporting incidents of hate crime in the island.

Since 2012, a total of 240 hate crimes have been reported to the Police, with most reports relating to racially motivated incidents.

Pictured: Breakdown of hate crime incidents which have been reported to the Police 2012-17.

At the moment, there is no legislation which deals specifically with hate crime. However, last year, the Telecommunications Law was updated to allow authorities “to prosecute people for sending communications that are grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, including via social media.”

Soon after this, a man was arrested in connection with “grossly offensive” comments made online regarding former refugees visiting the island.

Deputy Moore, the Minister who signed off on this law drafting instruction, told Express about why Jersey needs a law that deals with crimes of this nature: “Having a specific statutory law that deals more specifically with hate crime per se is better, because it covers all the bases more specifically rather than trying to fit square pegs into round holes.

"It creates a more watertight process for people within the criminal justice system as well as allowing us to be clearer with regards to our own intentions as an island community and our attitude towards not accepting hate crime or other behaviours that incite hatred." 

According to the UK Government website, hate crimes are “crimes committed against someone because of their disability, gender-identity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

“Hate crimes can include: threatening behaviour; assault; robbery; damage to property; inciting others to commit hate crimes; and harassment.”