UK- Transgender and disabled murders to incur far harsher hate-crime penalty

[SandraJane]

Transgender and disabled murders to incur far harsher hate-crime penalty


Starting point for sentencing to double under first government strategy to tackle prejudice against transgender people




    Alan Travis, home affairs editor, guardian.co.uk | Thursday 8 December 2011 10.47 EST


http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/08/transgender-disabled-murder-harsher-penalty



Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, unveiled measures to tackle transgender prejudice including bullying in schools. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA


Transgender and disabled murders to incur far harsher hate-crime penalty

Starting point for sentencing to double under first government strategy to tackle prejudice against transgender people

Murderers who kill disabled or transgender people in hate crimes are to face much longer prison sentences under government proposals.

The justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, said the "starting point" for judges sentencing in disability and transgender murder cases was to double from 15 to 30 years.

The move will bring sentencing in these cases in line with murders in which race, religion or sexual orientation is an aggravating factor.