Islanders and community groups are invited to have their say on potential hate crime legislation in Jersey.
The government says it will help shape any future law before it is drafted.
The consultation, available in English, Portuguese, and Polish, asks:
- Whether Jersey should have hate crime laws
- Which characteristics should be protected
- Whether offences for stirring up hatred should be introduced
- Whether the proposals strike the right balance between protection and freedom of speech
The aim is to ensure everyone is protected from crime motivated by hostility or prejudice, while also safeguarding freedom of expression.
A hate crime is a crime such as assault, harassment, threats, or criminal damage, which is motivated by hostility towards a person's protected characteristic, such as their race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.
Home Affairs Minister, Senator Helen Miles, said:
"I'm looking to hear from as many people as possible. If you have been subject to prejudice here, I want to hear from you, but equally, if you haven't and you have particular views on why we shouldn't implement a hate crime law, I would also like to hear from you.
"I think (legislation) is needed. I think it's very important that every single citizen in Jersey, no matter who you are, or how you identify, has some sort of element of protection from hatred in the law."
A consultation was launched on this in 2019, but a law has not come into force since.
Senator Miles added:
"There was a consultation in 2019, that was seven years ago, and since then, we have introduced the Public Order Law, but what's clear is that the Public Order Law that we implemented potentially doesn't have sufficient safeguards to protect people from hate-related activity."
The Minister is aiming to bring legislation before the States Assembly in Q4 of next year.
The CEO of Liberate Jersey has previously told Channel 103 that she's 'very encouraged' by the plan - you can read more here.
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