Calls to make misogyny a hate crime have intensified in the wake of the tragic deaths of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry.
The Metropolitan Police Service recently indicated that it is supportive of the introduction of recording of gender-based hate crime offences, depending on the outcome of the Law Commission’s review into hate crime legislation.
The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor to write to the Prime Minister and ask him to clarify the Government’s position on making misogyny a hate crime.
Joanne McCartney AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“Too many women and girls routinely face harassment, abuse and intimidation on our streets.
“Let’s be clear, the onus must be on men to change their behaviour and this should involve an approach which is based on both education and tougher enforcement.
“Making misogyny a hate crime would be a step towards achieving the cultural change we need - sending a clear message to perpetrators. So, it has been disappointing to recently hear the Prime Minister express his opposition to it.
“Whilst we wait for the Home Office to act on the pledge they made back in March to ask police forces to trial the recording of gender-based hate crime, the Prime Minister must come back and clarify what the Government’s position actually is."
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly supports making misogyny a hate crime. This could be achieved through amending current hate crime laws to add sex or gender to the list of protected hate crime characteristics.
This Assembly notes that the Home Office announced that it would ask police forces across the country to record gender-based hate crime on an experimental basis in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard in March, and that this has not yet happened.
This Assembly also notes the Metropolitan Police Service’s recent indication that it is supportive of the introduction of recording of gender-based hate crime offences, depending on the outcome of the Law Commission’s review into hate crime legislation.
This Assembly is concerned by the Prime Minister’s recent remarks which appeared to reject the need for changes to current hate crime legislation in order to better protect women and girls.
Given the uncertainty and contradicting announcements from the Government on this issue, we call upon the Mayor to write to the Prime Minister and ask him to clarify the Government’s position on making misogyny a hate crime.
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The motion was agreed by 14 votes for and 0 against.
- Joanne McCartney AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interviews.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Emma Bowden on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.