The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has claimed hundreds of defendants a month are being handed stiffer sentences because they have committed a hate crime motivated by prejudice.
The CPS has published statistics to show 1,814 criminal sentences were ‘uplifted’ across England and Wales between January and April this year.
Crimes which are eligible for an uplifted sentence are any that are motivated ‘wholly or partly’ by hostility based on perceived religion, race, sexual orientation or disability.
The increased sentences ranged from extended prison terms to longer community punishments, depending on the crime.
In a case in West Yorkshire the defendant pushed a victim and grabbed her headscarf. She was convicted after trial of religiously aggravated common assault by beating. She was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment uplifted from an initial eight weeks, suspended for 12 months. A Restraining Order was also imposed.
Six Men Convicted in Non-Recent Child Sexual Abuse Case
Average Speed Cameras Installed on Harrogate Road
Police Appeal After Serious Collision in Moss Side
Culture at the Heart of Stockport’s Transformation
South Asian Art Exhibition Opens at Cartwright Hall
Men’s Mental Fitness Programme Launches in Blackburn
Council Calls for Tougher Fly-Tipping Sentences
Free Midsummer Festival to Return to Milton Keynes
Leeds Sets Out ‘Landmark Year of Opportunity’ for Major Projects
Bhangra Nights
Alim OnAir
Remix Saturdays
Legal Show