Prejudice law consultation extended

The Minister for Home Affairs is giving Islanders more time to comment on a new law that focuses on crimes of prejudice.

The public consultation on the Crime (Prejudice and Public Disorder) (Jersey) Law was launched on 14 October and scheduled to run for eight weeks until 9 December. However, several interested parties have contacted the Minister to ask that it be extended to allow them more time to contribute.

Constable Len Norman, said: “Given that longer consultations are not unusual, and that the Christmas holiday period will delay consideration of responses until the new year, I have decided to extend the consultation period until 10 January 2020 to allow additional submissions to be made.

The draft law is part of a package of measures 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 intended to provide the Island with a world-leading criminal justice system, and this draft Law forms part of this modernisation and enhancement process.”

The consultation focuses on crimes of prejudice (commonly referred to as hate crime), public order offences and the fining powers of centeniers.

The draft law will be the primary tool to deal with crimes of prejudice in Jersey, and the consultation is focused on ensuing that the law is fit for purpose.

The consultation was launched in October to coincide with National Hate Crime Awareness Week, when the States of Jersey Police and their community partners held events to raise awareness about hate crime and its impact.