DUP calls for proper scrutiny of controversial hate crime proposals

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to rubber stamp special “transgender protections” under new hate crime proposals.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the party was waiting on details of Justice Minister Naomi Long’s recommendation to make transgender identity a protected characteristic under new hate crime provisions.

Last year, Long abandoned plans for a stand-alone hate crime Bill but remains committed to pushing through changes via amendments to her Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill.

Procedure

According to the BBC, Long wrote to Executive parties last month asking them to endorse a measure she claimed would “increase protection for transgender people” from hate crime.

Little-Pengelly told Good Morning Ulster that the DUP had not complied with Long’s request as the Minister had failed to submit a paper to the Executive for review.

She explained: “The Justice Minister knows that the way to get the Executive endorsement, or otherwise, for amendments, is to bring forward a paper to the Executive.

“That’s what she has been advised to do. When she brings those forward, of course, those will be considered in detail.”

Private conversations

In September, Long pledged to introduce “the most impactful hate crime provisions from Judge Marrinan’s Review of Hate Crime Legislation”.

Desmond Marrinan’s recommendations from 2020 include a call to remove the ‘dwelling defence’, protecting private conversations in the home from being criminalised.

Long wants to prioritise creating ‘aggravated offences’ – allowing tougher sentences where crimes are deemed to be motivated by hostility towards a protected group – and wants to ‘recognise intersectionality’.