The British government has rejected calls to make misogyny a new hate crime, arguing that it would only make it harder to prosecute sexual offences and domestic abuse cases. The House of Lords inflicted a string of defeats on the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill last month, passing a host of amendments including adding misogyny to existing hate crime laws. Home Secretary Priti Patel has written to MPs setting out why she is opposed to the amendments and urging them to back the government’s bill. The Home Office has cited the Law Commission, which advises ministers, as saying legislating to make misogyny a hate crime would prove “more harmful than helpful.” In a review (pdf) published in December, the commission recommended that “sex and gender should not be added as a characteristic for the purposes of enhanced sentencing and aggravated offences,” as it may be “counterproductive in some …