{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-disorder-act-1998/section-32",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-disorder-act-1998/section-32.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1998/37",
  "legislation_title": "Crime and Disorder Act 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-disorder-act-1998",
  "path": "section/32",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "32",
  "heading": "Racially or religiously aggravated harassment etc.",
  "text": "(1) A person is guilty of an offence under this section if he commits—\n(a) an offence under section 2 or 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (offences of harassment and stalking); or\n(b) 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),\nwhich is racially or religiously aggravated for the purposes of this section.\n(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(3) A person guilty of an offence falling within subsection (1)(a) above shall be liable—\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.\n(4) A person guilty of an offence falling within subsection (1)(b) above shall be liable—\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or to a fine, or to both.\n(5) 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.\n(6) 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.\n(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1)(a) inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 144(2)(a)(i) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1)(a) substituted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 144(2)(a)(ii) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1)(b) inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 144(2)(b)(i) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1)(b) inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 144(2)(b)(ii) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1) substituted (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, ss. 39(5)(b)(6)(d), 127(2) (with s. 42)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 32(2) repealed (1.10.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), s. 107(2), Sch. 8; S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(g)(iii)(f)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(4)(b) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 175(2), 183(1)(5)(e) (with s. 175(3)); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 35"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(5) substituted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 144(3) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 32(7) repealed (30.9.2009) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58, 60, Sch. 10 para. 48, Sch. 11 (with Sch. 12 para. 5(1)); S.I. 2009/2616, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in the sidenote to s. 32 substituted (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, ss. 39(5)(a)(6)(d), 127(2) (with s. 42)"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1997 c.40."
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 32 wholly in force; S. 32 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 121. In force at 30.9.1998 by S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1) (subject to savings in arts. 5-8)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "word substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2026/20",
      "affecting_title": "Crime and Policing Act 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2026/20",
      "affecting_title": "Crime and Policing Act 2026"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/37/section/32",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:22:25.156552+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}