14 October 2019
Islanders are being asked to give their views about what should be included in the draft Crime (Prejudice and Public Disorder) Law.
The consultation focusses on crimes of prejudice (which is commonly referred to as hate crime), public order offences and the fining powers of Centeniers. Its launch coincides with National Hate Crime Awareness Week where the States of Jersey Police and their community partners will continue to raise awareness about hate crime and its impact.
The draft Law will be the primary tool to deal with crimes of prejudice in Jersey, with the objective being to discourage these crimes through enabling the criminal justice system to apply suitable punishment for offenders. The consultation is focused on ensuing that the draft Law is fit for purpose, as this will underpin all further work in this area.
Home Affairs Minister Constable Len Norman said: “The consultation follows awareness campaigns that we have conducted this year regarding hate crime, and the introduction of the law makes it clear that such crimes are not acceptable in modern society.
"It demonstrates our commitment to global efforts to punish and reduce such offences, and allow Jersey to comply with international obligations to which we are already committed and those to which we might wish to enter into in future.”
This draft Law is part of a broader package of measures intended to modernise Jersey’s approach to managing criminal offences, and to bring processes up to international standards. The recent Bail, Criminal Procedure and Sexual Offences Laws have all been aimed at providing Jersey with a world leading criminal justice system, and this draft Law forms part of this modernisation and enhancement process.
gov.je