Incitement to hatred against gay, lesbian and bisexual people is to become a criminal offence, the government has announced.

Justice secretary Jack Straw revealed this evening that existing legislation covering incitement to hatred against people on the grounds of their religion and race will be extended to their sexuality in the criminal justice and immigration bill.

Previous measures on such grounds have provoked criticism from freedom of speech campaigners, but Mr Straw believes the move is a positive one reflecting Britain's changing values.

"It is a measure of how far we have come as a society in the last 10 years that we are now appalled by hatred and invective directed at people on the basis of their sexuality. It is time for the law to recognise this," he said.

Another measure included in the bill and announced this evening authorises police to inform the public if they believe a sex offender poses a danger to children.

It will also force sex offenders to report additional details on their register, including email addresses and new relationships with women who have children.

"We are committed to protecting children from sexual predators and the proposals being laid out today will strengthen that protection," home secretary Jacqui Smith said.

"The UK already has the strongest restrictions on child sex offenders and these proposals which follow on from the publication of the child sex offenders review earlier this year will help us to continue doing all we can to protect them."
© Adfero Ltd