North West Cambs MP welcomes change to hate crime laws
MP for North West Cambridgeshire, Sam Carling has welcomed the introduction of a new law that will see tougher sentences handed out to people who commit hate crimes against LGBT+ and disabled people.
The new legislation will term any serious crime that is motivated by prejudice against someone because of their disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity as an ‘aggravated’ offence – the same as hate crimes motivated by race or religion.
This change will result in tougher sentences handed out to those who perpetrate such crimes.
Carling was one of 104 cross-party MPs in Parliament who backed the proposed law change, which was initially tabled by the MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, Rachel Taylor.
The Labour MP described the law change as “an important step forward” and that “real change is possible” when MPs work together across party lines.
“I was proud to back Rachel Taylor’s campaign to strengthen hate crime law,” he said.
“Nobody should face hatred or violence because of who they are, and it has been long overdue for these crimes to be treated with the same seriousness in law as those motivated by race or religion.”
Rachel Taylor said she was “absolutely delighted” that the government had listened to the cross-party MPs who supported the law change, and that MPs had voted for that change to become law.”
“It’s shocking that between March 2023 and 2024, over 40,000 hate crimes against people in Britain because of their sexual orientation, transgender identity, or disability were recorded by the police,” she said.
“Victims deserve to have these crimes treated every bit as seriously in law as hate crimes based on race and religion.”