Government confirms misogyny will not be made a hate crime

[IwantToRetire]

The commission’s report stated: “While we consider that there is a serious problem of crime that is connected to misogyny, we have concluded that the particular model of hate crime laws is unlikely to prove an effective response to misogynistic offending, and may prove more harmful than helpful, both to victims of violence against women and girls, and also to efforts to tackle hate crime more broadly.

“We suggest that reforms in other areas are more likely to result in tangible, positive results.”

In a written statement, Ms Dines said: “The Government agrees with these concerns. Accordingly, the Government does not intend to bring forward legislation to add sex or gender as a protected characteristic in hate crime law.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/government-christine-jardine-home-office-misogyny-liberal-democrats-b2326445.html

I am not sure where the written statement is, but might be this one:
https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/debate/2023-04-25/commons/written-statements/law-commission-review-of-hate-crime-laws-recommendation-8

I don’t disagree with the reasoning. I don’t think our hate crime laws are fit for purpose and I wouldn’t expect misogyny being added to make any real difference too women’s treatment. But it’s bloody depressing that they knock this on the head without any promising ideas for how to actually tackle it.

Great!

So they acknowledge women are being caused major problems but propose no alternative legal (or other) solution?
What now for women, then?

No, imo they have acknowledged that there is a problem but think that Hate Crime legislation is not the right way to deal with it. Which is fine by me.

I don't disagree with the reasoning. Indeed the concept of "hate speech" and "hate crime" should be abolished completely, the underlying crime should be enough and I would much prefer that all people are equal under the law.

I agree ingenieur. I find the whole idea of hate crime sinister.

They're not planning to get rid of other hate crime laws though, why don't they have the same impact they are worried about for misogyny?

@Itwasnaeme

Specifically they've said their intent is to reduce the amount of misogynistic behaviour. They clearly feel that hate crime laws don't actually reduce feelings of hatred or incidences of the underlying crimes, so it isn't going to be effective in pursuing the goal of reduction.

may prove more harmful than helpful, both to victims of violence against women and girls,

Oh that's well put.

They saw that this was yet another bloody trojan horse for the T lobby to wallop women and girls on behalf of male people. Which was largely the purpose of it and how it had the power to get as far as it did: women and girls didn't get it here.

And yes, hate crime has turned out to be another ruddy mess of badly thought out law that does nothing positive but is a useful weapon for a complainant to bash someone who didn't please them.

I'm sorry to say but at the moment this is a good thing. Just this week two men have accused prominent women of misogyny (against the men who both hold trans identities) in TV interviews. Which is frankly ludicrous but it's exactly how this would be weaponised against us.

"The Government agrees with these concerns. Accordingly, the Government does not intend to bring forward legislation to add sex or gender as a protected characteristic in hate crime law.”

Sex or gender? So there is a difference then!

I'm glad. I wrote to my MP to object to this, citing the sheer volume of non-crime hate incidents that are logged, with personal data held, including against children. Eg here: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9508887/Priti-Patel-calls-police-chiefs-wipe-non-crime-hate-incidents-peoples-records.html where are the resultant charges and convictions?

Make no mistake, this would be very dangerous for women. It would be used against us. Labour would of course only add more to it, like "gender identity". We'd be fucked.

Yes. Stella Creasey wanting to make misogyny a hate crime. Idiot

Okay. It's partly good, I see the reasoning. But currently it leaves women at a major disadvantage, I think.

I think that symoblically it is a slap in the face for women.

Either having hate crimes work and if they do then it is indefencible that women aren't included.

If we never did anything because laws / the system dont always work, women shouldn't bother to campaign on anything. Its a totally defeatest attitude.

So legislation in the UK continues to institutionise that women are not as worthy of respect as anyone else.

Great.

Lets give up on rape being prosecuted. The percentage of proven cases is tiny so why bother.