About this event

The Law Commission is hosting a live event, to answer questions about the reforms to hate crime laws that we provisionally propose in Hate Crime Laws: A Consultation Paper. The event is open to all members of the public who are interested in this area of law, and have questions surrounding our reform proposals.

We will provide a brief overview of the way that hate crime laws currently operate in England and Wales, and deliver a series of live presentations, relating to:

(1) Our provisional proposal to extend the aggravated offences to cover all existing hate crime characteristics.

(2) Our provisional proposal to add ‘sex or gender’ to the characteristics protected by hate crime laws.

(3) Our question as to whether the characteristic of ‘age’ should be protected by hate crime laws.

(4) Our question(s) as to whether any of the following groups/characteristics should be protected by hate crime laws: sex workers, people experiencing homelessness, alternative subcultures, philosophical beliefs.

(5) Our provisional proposals to reform the stirring up offences.

The event will be held on Microsoft Teams. For information about attending a Microsoft Teams live event, click here. You will not be on camera or able to speak during the event. Following the live presentations, we will allow time for questions. You will be able to submit your questions during the event, by posting them in the chat box on the right-hand side of the screen. Alternatively, you can email your questions in advance to hate.crime@lawcommission.gov.uk, identifying ‘Law Commission Q&A on reforming hate crime laws’ in the subject line. We cannot promise to answer all questions during the session, but we will do our best to cover as many as possible. (Please note that questions will be moderated. While free discussion is essential, abusive, offensive or derogatory posts are not acceptable and, if necessary, will result in you being removed from the event.)