Protect 3 million women a year from ‘hate crime’ organisation calls

The government is being urged to reclassify violence against women as a ‘hate crime’ in the wake of Vincent Tabak’s conviction for Jo Yeates’ murder in Bristol.

After the trial, it was revealed that Tabak watched violent pornography before murdering the landscape architect next door.

From Equality South West, Brenda Weston said: “Three million women are victims of violence every year in the UK, targeted because of their sex, yet the crimes are recorded under numerous different categories.

“If all domestic violence, rape, murder, stalking etc. against women were classified as ‘hate crimes’, it would allow the government to accurately monitor incidents and expressly reflect their prominence.

“Labelling them ‘hate crimes’ might even begin to change people’s attitudes towards women, highlighting the problems faced by women, rather than normalising crimes against them.”

Equality South West is inviting people to join the debate by answering a question posted on their website at www.equalitysouthwest.org.uk