Hate crimes could see longer sentences

Lord Goldsmith says hate crimes affect whole communities

The perpetrators of racially and religiously motivated crimes could have their sentences increased under new powers to be handed to the Attorney General.

Lord Goldsmith QC, the government's chief legal adviser, will be able to refer sentences he considers unduly lenient to the Court of Appeal for review.

The move, which was backed by the Lord Chief Justice, aims to show the public that such offences will be treated "with the seriousness they deserve", Lord Goldsmith said.

The Home Office said the changes come into effect on 13 October and will apply to any sentence imposed after that date.

Serious crimes

Announcing the changes, Lord Goldsmith said: "The power to refer unduly lenient sentences is an important part of the Attorney General's role.

A racially or religiously motivated attack is an attack on the whole community Lord Goldsmith

"It clarifies matters of sentencing principle, and reassures victims of crimes that there is recourse to a second opinion where a sentence is considered unfair."

At the moment the option of referring sentences to the Court of Appeal for review only applies to the most serious crimes, including indecent assault, threats to kill, child cruelty and paedophilia.

Lord Goldsmith said he wanted racially and religiously motivated crimes to be treated in the same way.

He said: "I have pushed for this extension because race and religious crimes are hate crimes, which strike at the heart of people's right to feel safe and protected by the law.

"A racially or religiously motivated attack is an attack on the whole community."

Welcoming the move, Baroness Scotland, Minister for the Criminal Justice System, said she hoped it would help to ensure "appropriate sentencing for all racially and religiously aggravated crimes".