Call to use hate laws to protect women

WOMEN should be protected under hate crime laws with sexist thugs jailed for longer, senior lawyers said.

The Law Commission wants the sex of a victim considered alongside their race, religion, disabilities or their sexual orientation.

Judges will be able to lock up violent sexist offenders for longer if the Ministry of Justice approves the proposals set out last night.

The Law Commission warned the “vast majority” of evidence it has seen is of “crimes linked to misogyny”.

Impact

The proposals will primarily protect women, but officials will be “consulting further” on whether it should also cover men.

Professor Penney Lewis, Criminal Law Commissioner, said: “Hate crime has no place in our society and we have seen the terrible impact that it can have on victims.

“Our proposals will ensure all protected characteristics are treated in the same way, and that women enjoy hate crime protection for the first time.”

Experts also say LGBT or disabled crime victims receive less protection than victims of racially or religiously motivated offences. It takes more subtle forms and can be harder to prove.