Bigots face being jailed

IN 1998, the new Crime and Disorder Act made it an offence to target someone due to race, ethnic origin, national origin or the colour of their skin.

A race hate crime is ‘any incident perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on race or religion’.

The act covers racially aggravated threatening behaviour, assault, wounding, robbery, damage to property, inciting others to commit hate crimes, stalking and harassment. Those guilty of racially aggravated harassment causing alarm or distress face two years in jail.