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| Long title | An Act to make provision about offences involving stirring up hatred against persons on racial or religious grounds. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2006 c. 1 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales[2] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 February 2006 |
| Commencement | 1 October 2007 (partially)[3] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | None |
| Relates to | Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Public Order Act 1986, Protection from Harassment Act 1997 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 (c. 1) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which creates an offence in England and Wales of inciting hatred against a person on the grounds of their religion. The Act was the Labour Government's third attempt to bring in this offence: provisions were originally included as part of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill in 2001, but were dropped after objections from the House of Lords. The measure was again brought forward as part of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill in 2004-5, but was again dropped in order to get the body of that Bill passed before the 2005 general election.
The Act is notable because two amendments made in the House of Lords failed to be overturned by the Government in the House of Commons.
Most of the Act came into force on 1 October 2007.
- ^ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 3(1) of this Act.
- ^ The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, section 3(4)
- ^ Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2007