Overview

This bill mandates that UK police forces in England and Wales maintain a register of hate crimes targeting individuals with learning difficulties, learning disabilities, and autism. The data collected will be submitted to the Secretary of State and may be published, with a summary presented to Parliament.

Description

The Hate Crime (People with Learning Difficulties and Learning Disabilities) Bill requires all police forces in England and Wales to:

• Create and maintain a register of hate crimes against individuals with learning difficulties, learning disabilities, and autism.
• Provide the Secretary of State with regular copies of this register.
• Collect data in a format specified by the Secretary of State, including statistical data relevant to policing and national/international police functions.
• Potentially publish information from the register as directed by the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State will also:

• Specify the form for data collection and registration.
• Determine the publication method for register information.
• Prepare and present a summary of the data to Parliament.
• Specify by order which learning difficulties or learning disabilities will be included in the register (including autism).

Any orders or regulations under this Act must be approved by both Houses of Parliament.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any new government spending figures. The cost will likely depend on the resources required by police forces for data collection, maintenance of the register, and reporting to the Secretary of State. The exact financial impact is not detailed in the bill text.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• People with learning difficulties and learning disabilities (including autism): The bill aims to improve the recording and monitoring of hate crimes against them, potentially leading to better protection and support.
• Police forces in England and Wales: They are required to implement new procedures for recording and reporting hate crime data, potentially requiring additional staffing or resources.
• The Secretary of State: Responsible for setting the guidelines for data collection, overseeing the reporting process, and publishing summarized data.
• Parliament: Will receive a consolidated summary of the data for review and consideration.

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