UK: Ministers to reject making misogyny a hate crime

Source: The Telegraph

Ministers to reject making misogyny a hate crime

Charles Hymas
Sun, February 20, 2022, 11:24 AM

Ministers are to reject making misogyny a hate crime because it would be counterproductive and harmful to victims, Priti Patel will tell MPs on Monday.

But the Home Secretary will say the Government is "carefully considering" a new offence of street harassment that would criminalise the verbal abuse of women, pestering and persistent cat-calling or making lewd comments.

The Home Office stance is based on a Law Commission report which warned that extending hate crimes to cover misogyny would prove "more harmful than helpful" to victims of violence against women and girls.

The commission warned that prosecutors would need to prove a "hate crime" occurred as part of another offence, such as rape, making it harder to prosecute sexual offences and domestic abuse. Instead, it suggested a new offence of public sexual harassment would be a more effective way of protecting women against violence.

Ms Patel will use a letter to MPs on Monday to say that the Government will therefore oppose a Lords amendment to the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that would make misogyny a hate crime.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/ministers-reject-making-misogyny-hate-162422526.html