THE government will consider including misogyny within its upcoming hate crime legislation, the Home Affairs Minister has revealed.
Deputy Mary Le Hegarat told States Members yesterday that the proposed hate crime law, which aims to protect various groups of people from hatred and prejudice, will be brought to the Assembly in 2025.
The minister acknowledged there had been delays due to “unforeseen circumstances” and the need to prioritise other significant pieces of legislation.
When questioned by Deputy Louise Doublet about other interim actions the government could take, Deputy Le Hegarat said she was “happy to speak to the States of Jersey police to see what we can do in the meantime” before the hate crime law is implemented.
Deputy Doublet also urged the minister to consider instructing the States police to track crimes against women motivated by gender-based hatred.
She also suggested that the government could take measures to combat “incel culture” – an online community of mostly young men who identify as “involuntarily celibate” and often express hostility or hatred towards women.
Deputy Le Hegarat said that she would look into whether misogyny should be considered as a standalone issue or as part of the broader hate crime legislation.
“I think misogyny should be considered as part of legislation,” she told Members.
In England and Wales, an offence can be prosecuted as a hate crime if the offender has demonstrated hostility, or been motivated by hostility, based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and/or transgender identity. Such categorisation can lead to higher sentences.
The potential inclusion of misogyny in Jersey’s hate crime law comes after the UK government rejected a House of Lords amendment in 2022 that would have recognised misogyny as a hate crime.
Earlier in 2024, the UK Home Secretary ordered a review of the country’s counter-extremism strategy to explore how best to tackle the threat posed by extreme misogyny.
