March 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference examines key issues around hate crime policy in England and Wales.
It will be an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss priorities for the new government - with heightened public and political focus on this area of policy.
The discussion takes place as the Law Commission prepares to launch its consultation on the adequacy of protection offered by hate crime legislation and consider potential extensions of protected characteristics.
With initial work by the Law Commission underway, the seminar will include a keynote address from Professor Penney Lewis, the Commissioner leading on this work.
Delegates will discuss the future scope of hate crime legislation and its enforcement - including the Government’s commitment to introducing online harms legislation to protect children and vulnerable adults from digital threats as outlined in the Queen’s Speech.
We also expect attendees to consider wider related issues, including prevention strategies and support for those affected by hate crime.
The seminar follows the most recent Home Office data on recorded hate crime incidence, which showed a 10% year-on-year rise overall, with specific surges in the number of incidents relating to disability, sexual orientation, and anti-Semitism.
There will be keynote contributions from:
- Chris Long, Chief Crown Prosecutor, and Hate Crime Champion, Crown Prosecution Service;
- Professor Penney Lewis, Commissioner for Criminal Law, The Law Commission;
- Paul Giannasi, Cross-Government Hate Crime Programme Manager, Ministry of Justice;
- His Excellency Mr Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson, Ambassador, Embassy of Iceland in London; and
- Laura Butterworth, Senior Programme Manager, Community Safety, London Borough of Waltham Forest
Further speakers include: Lee Adams, JMW Solicitors; Professor Neil Chakraborti, University of Leicester; Isla Dixon, Leicestershire Police; Andy Fearn, Protection Approaches; Lucy Jaffe, Why me? Victims for Restorative Justice; Ramya Nagesh, No5 Chambers; and Sam Smethers, The Fawcett Society.
Professor Neil Chakraborti, Head of School and Professor, Criminology, School of Criminology, University of Leicester has kindly agreed to chair part of the seminar.
The agenda
- The Law Commission’s consultation on hate crime legislation;
- Hate crime law: an international perspective;
- Protected characteristics in law - assessing the current position, treatment of ‘aggravated offences’, and options for extending legislation;
- Prosecution of hate crime - improving conviction rates, evidence gathering, and alternative approaches to sentencing;
- Working together to stop hate through Citizens Assemblies - a case study;
- Enforcement and prevention - victim support, improving awareness, and educational priorities; and
- Hate Crime policy - options for reform following the review.
Engagement with policy officials at this conference
This Westminster Legal Policy Forum conference has attracted strong interest from policymakers. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with officials who have reserved places representing: MoJ; Home Office; Attorney General’s Office; the Crown Prosecution Service; DfE; the Government Equalities Office; the Government Legal Department; HMPPS; Ofcom; the Sentencing Council; and the Welsh Government.
