General · 17 February 2026
England sets higher penalties for disability and LGBT crimes
An amendment to the Crimes and Policing Bill will make targeting victims due to sexuality, gender identity, or disability an aggravated offence. This change creates specific charges with stricter punishments, matching existing laws for racial and religious hatred in England and Wales. MP Rachel Taylor proposed the update after police recorded over 30,000 such incidents between March 2024 and 2025.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs