Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the maximum sentence for people convicted of racist hate crime.

The legal framework for hate crimes already ensures there are increased penalties for offenders when compared to non-hate crimes. This includes higher possible sentences for a range of offences such as assault, harassment and criminal damage when they include racial hostility.

We have asked the Law Commission to review hate crime legislation and consider how the law can be made more effective. It will report recommendations this year and we will respond when it is complete.