Hate speech laws in the United Kingdom

Hate speech laws in England and Wales are found in several statutes, and differ slightly from the laws adopted in Scotland. Expressions of hatred toward someone on account of that person's colour, race, sex, disability, nationality (including citizenship), ethnic or national origin, religion, or sexual orientation is forbidden.[1][2][3][4] Any communication which is threatening or abusive, and is intended to harass, alarm, or distress someone is forbidden.[5] The penalties for hate speech include fines, imprisonment, or both.[6]

The Police and CPS have formulated a definition of hate crimes and hate incidents, with hate speech forming a subset of these. Something is a hate incident if the victim or anyone else think it was motivated by hostility or prejudice based on: disability, race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation. A hate incident becomes a hate crime if it crosses the boundary of criminality.[7]

Some United Kingdom statutes apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  1. ^ "Public Order Act 1986". www.statutelaw.gov.uk.
  2. ^ "Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006". www.opsi.gov.uk.
  3. ^ "Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Crown Prosecution Service: Hate Crime".
  5. ^ Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
  6. ^ Besides "hate speech" laws, the United Kingdom has also hate crime laws. For England, Wales, and Scotland, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 makes hateful behaviour towards a victim based on the victim’s membership (or presumed membership) in a racial group an "aggravating factor" for the purpose of sentencing in respect of specified crimes. A "racial group" is a group of persons defined by reference to race, colour, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins. The specified crimes are assault, criminal damage, offences under the Public Order Act 1986, and offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/uksi_20032267_en.pdf
  7. ^ "What are hate incidents and hate crime?".