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Religion

Valuing a person’s religion is important to Thames Valley Police and religious hatred or discrimination is not tolerated. Religion is recognised as one our ‘six strands of diversity’.

The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 makes inciting others to religious hatred a criminal offence. The legislation has been in force since October 2007. It applies to all religions and faiths, as well as people who expressly claim no religion or faith – for example, humanists.

Under the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, the criminal act of inciting others to religious hatred could be committed by:

• The use of words or behaviour or display of written material (Section 29B).
• Publishing or distributing written material (Section 29C).
• The public performance of a play (Section 29D).
• Distributing, showing or playing a recording (Section 29E).
• Broadcasting or including a programme in a programme service (Section 29F).
• Possessing ‘inflammatory’ written or recorded material with a view to display, publish or distribute (Section 29G).