See also:
> Racism - some facts and figures
> Religious/Faith Hate Crime

Disability Hate Crime – some facts

A growing amount of disabled people are now reporting offences, including hate crime, in greater numbers.  There have been growing concerns that attacks on disabled people are increasing, but exact figures about these offences are difficult to come by, although most Police services throughout the country now have a system in place which means that hate crimes against the disabled are recorded separately.

Judges now have greater powers of sentencing when hate crimes are committed against disabled people since the Criminal Justice Act in April 2005 came into being.  The Act included provision for increasing sentences for crimes against disable people where these are aggravated by discrimination or prejudice.

Many disabled people find their opportunity to participate within their communities constrained by the fear, or reality, of harassment.  This may be in the form of bullying or abuse both verbal and physical.  The experience or fear of crime can have a marked impact on an individual’s ability to fully enjoy a social and economic life which in turn undermines their sense of security and wellbeing.

Research has found that 9 out of 10 people with learning disabilities report harassment as a feature of everyday life.

A great many children with learning disabilities live with the constant threat of being bullied because bullies see them as easy targets and levels of bullying are much higher for disabled children than for non-disabled children.  Unfortunately for these children bullying does not stop at school it often goes on throughout their lives.

Many disabled people who are subject to abuse or harassment often avoid specific places and frequently change their usual routine.  In fact some have moved home as a result of an attack.

Disabled people often have a heightened fear of crime and a lack of trust in the criminal justice system.  Some people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and sensory impairment report that their experience of hate crime is often dismissed as insignificant and their credibility as witnesses questioned.

Unfortunately there are low levels of reporting of this type of crime and therefore preventing and tackling hate incidents experienced by disabled people requires real commitment. All the relevant agencies have this in abundance.