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Section 32: Racially or religiously aggravated harassment etc.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998 · 1998 c. 37View on legislation.gov.uk

Part II: Criminal law

A person is guilty of an offence under this section if he commits—

an offence under section 2 or 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (offences of harassment and stalking); or
an offence under section 4 or 4A of that Act (putting people in fear of violence and stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress),

which is racially or religiously aggravated for the purposes of this section.

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A person guilty of an offence falling within subsection (1)(a) above shall be liable—

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.

A person guilty of an offence falling within subsection (1)(b) above shall be liable—

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or to a fine, or to both.

If, on the trial on indictment of a person charged with an offence falling within subsection (1)(a) above, the jury find him not guilty of the offence charged, they may find him guilty of either basic offence mentioned in that provision.

If, on the trial on indictment of a person charged with an offence falling within subsection (1)(b) above, the jury find him not guilty of the offence charged, they may find him guilty of an offence falling within subsection (1)(a) above.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.