Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said:
“I am disappointed that the Law Commission has recommended that ‘age’ should not be recognised as a protected characteristic in hate crime laws.
“Strengthening legislation so that crimes against older people could be recognised as hate crimes, in cases where the age of the victim has been a factor, would be a significant step forward and would help to ensure that older people have the same level of protection within the law as other groups covered by the Equality Act.
“I will therefore continue to call for, and make the case for, this important change to be introduced as we move to the next phase of legislative process, which will begin shortly in Westminster.”