Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Making Misogyny a Hate Crime: Potential Merits

Wednesday 8 March 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Law Commission recommended against adding sex and gender to hate crime laws
  • Wera Hobhouse argued that most violence against women originates from misogyny
  • The Government stated that adding misogyny to hate crimes might be more of a virtue signal than a practical measure

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Women & Equalities
Context

The question arises from debates on the merits of making misogyny a distinct form of hate crime. It follows the Law Commission's recommendation against adding sex and gender to hate crime laws.

Question

What recent assessment has the Government made of the potential merits of making misogyny a hate crime?

Answer from Sarah Dines

I am going to have to be quicker, or I will never get on the “Women in Westminster: the 100” list. The Law Commission recommended against adding sex and gender to the hate crime laws. It found that the addition of those characteristics might make the prosecution of crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls more difficult. The Government share the Law Commission's concern. Parliament repeatedly voted against making misogyny a hate crime last year, and there are no plans to change.

Answered
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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Women & Equalities
Context

The supplementary question follows discussions about the Law Commission's recommendations. The questioner argues that making misogyny a hate crime would improve the investigation of crimes against women.

Question

I recognise the arguments that have been made. Most violence against women originates in misogyny. Therefore, making misogyny a hate crime would send such a powerful signal to all offenders that all their offences will be taken with the utmost seriousness and investigated properly. Victims of Wayne Couzens have argued that, if only their reports of his indecent exposure had been taken seriously, Sarah Everard might still be alive today. Is it not time that we made misogyny a hate crime?

Answer from Sarah Dines

I beg to disagree. It may send a signal, but it is more of a virtue signal than a real signal. We have more police officers than ever, and we are determined to stamp out violence against women and girls.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about making misogyny a hate crime was not directly addressed with concrete commitments or details.

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