hate crime

• the Sexual Offences Act 1967 decriminalised homosexuality for the first time in the UK
• the Criminal Justice Act 2005 said that hate crimes (crimes motivated by prejudice against the victim's race, gender, disability or sexual orientation) would be punished more severely
• new laws were also needed as increasing immigration led to Britain being more multicultural. The 1968 Race Relations Act made it illegal to refuse jobs, housing or public services to anyone on the basis of their race, ethnic background or country of origin