Which statement about racially aggravated offences is true?

• A. They carry no extra penalties
• B. They carry enhanced penalties when proven racially motivated
• C. They apply only to non-violent crimes
• D. They were abolished in 1998

Answer: (B)

Racially aggravated offences carry enhanced penalties when proven racially motivated. The idea is that the motive itself makes the conduct more serious in the eyes of the law, so the court can impose a higher sentence than for the same offence without that racial motivation. This concept was introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and it can apply to a range of offences—from violence to harassment and property offences. If the racially motivated element isn’t proven, the standard penalty for the offence applies. The other statements aren’t correct because these offences do carry extra penalties, they can apply to both violent and non-violent crimes, and they were not abolished in 1998.