Hate crime legislation...?

[mrph]

As some of you will be aware, there's an online (UK) petition to broaden the definition of hate crimes in the wake of Sophie Lancaster's death.

Personally, I have to say that I'm unconvinced by the concept of hate crime laws. Not just in this case, but generally. On the other hand, I don't actually have any facts and figures about this to hand - it's just a vague unease.

I'm sure someone out there knows rather more than I do, though. So...

1. Are they effective when a case comes to court?
2. Do they actually make a difference as a deterrent?
3. Should two similar crimes be treated differently depending on what motivated them - should the courts treat a completely random attack differently from a hate crime...?

I know this is a very emotive subject - and I do want to see the people responsible for this sort of attack jailed for a very long time. But is this the best way to do that? Are the existing laws sufficient - or do they need strengthening in other ways...?

Comments

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Hmm...yes, I think that's what I am thinking. The effect of hate crime on the group its victim belongs to goes further than the death or injuries of the victim. It makes the rest of the group afraid until the culprit is caught, and still afterwards, if they know somebody hid the criminal and condoned what they had done.

On that basis, though, I think stranger rape should be redefined as always a hate crime.