Priti Patel has urged MPs to push through her controversial policing bill (Jeff Overs/PA)
(Picture: PA Media)The government has rejected calls to make misogyny a hate crime over fears that it would make it harder to prosecute sexual offences and domestic abuse cases.
The House of Lords added misogyny as a hate crime as one of its amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in January.
But Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote a letter to all 650 MPs on Monday saying such a move – which could see men prosecuted for wolf-whistling – would be “more harmful than helpful” to women and girls.
Patel has told MPs to back the controversial legislation on the basis that criminals are “getting off” with light sentences while the bill remains stuck in parliamentary ping-poing.
However, she has thrown out plans to make misogyny a hate crime, saying it would prove “more harmful than help” to victims of violence against women and girls.
The Home Office said the revised version of the draft law going before the Commons will see a number of measures tightened, including extending the time limit for prosecution of common assault or battery in domestic abuse cases.
Officials said the “enhanced” version of the draft legislation will also include introducing Harper’s Law, which will extend mandatory life sentences to those convicted of the unlawful manslaughter of an on-duty emergency worker.
Other changes include increasing the maximum penalties for child cruelty offences, extending football banning orders to include online abuse, and introducing a new offence to tackle attempts to film or photograph breastfeeding without consent.
Announcing her intention to write to MPs on Monday, the Home Secretary said: “We are putting more police officers on the streets, removing dangerous weapons and bearing down on violent criminals who prey on vulnerable people in our communities.
“But while violent crime has fallen, there are still too many criminals getting off with inadequate sentences for appalling acts of violence and sexual offences and still people who feel unsafe walking the streets or in their own homes.
“This Bill is vitally important as we overhaul the criminal justice system and make our streets safer.
“It must be passed soon so that we can continue to cut crime, reduce violence and protect women and girls.”
In the Commons, the Government could use its majority to overturn the defeats inflicted by the unelected chamber.
In her letter Ms Patel is opposing other Lords amendments including the establishment of two new specific offences relating to “sex for rent” and ruling out creating a “duty of candour” on police.
On the call for further measures to be introduced to tackle “sex for rent” exploitation, she will instead commit to carrying out a public consultation by the summer recess in a bid to ensure “we have the right legislation in place”, department aides said.
Home Office officials said ministers would also “continue fighting” to bring in increase police powers for dealing with “highly disruptive protests”.
The policy has sparked “Kill The Bill” demonstrations across the country, including gatherings that have turned violent.
However, the Home Secretary will welcome a Lords’ amendment which will enable a local authority to quickly establish a buffer zone around schools and vaccination centres if targeted by harmful and disruptive protests.
The Bill will be back in the Commons for consideration on Monday February 28.
Yvette Cooper, Labour’s shadow home secretary, said crime is “rising” and that Ms Patel was “refusing” to take “major steps” to keep communities safe.
She added: “Priti Patel is also still trying to criminalise people for protesting noisily or singing in the street rather than tackling serious crime.
“Too often under the Tories, criminals are getting away with it and victims are being let down.”
