Lets Expose Disability Hate Crime
Disability Hate Crime “I’m hating It”
Another great story regarding “Disability Hate Crime” there are some great stories regarding “Hate Crime” recently and we all should keep the messages going that we will not tolerate any kind of “Hate Crime” and we will keep on stamping it out.
Disabled young people in Coventry have been helping to launch a resource pack aimed at raising awareness of disability hate crime.
The resources are for use with young people in colleges, schools and youth work settings. The ‘I’m Hating it’ pack has been funded by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and created by young people in Coventry who attend Hereward College, Henley College and the Grapevine ‘Get In’ Project.
See the Video and full story here
Stop Hate UK
Stop Hate UK have published there annual reports and you can read them by clicking on the links below
You will see from the report that Figures show that an increasing number of people are reporting Hate Crimes related to their disability. For the first time Stop Hate UK has received more reports of Hate Crime relating to the victim’s disability than for Hate Crimes relating to the victims race or ethnicity. In 2011-2012 Stop Hate UK received 474 calls reporting Hate Crimes or incidents relating to the victims disability and 448 relating to the victims race or ethnicity.
Stop Hate UK Press release – Annual report
Disability Hate Crime on the rise
In the Independent newspaper today there is an article that didn’t shock us at Disability Online because we have had more people come to us regarding Disability Hate crime in the last few months.
Since the coalition came into power and the austerity measures and cuts have taken place, people have started to blame certain members of society and disabled people have been attacked more than ever before.
The independent says:
That figure, based on Freedom of Information answers supplied by 43 of 44 forces, represents a 14 per cent rise on 2010. Disability hate crime has doubled since the start of the financial crisis in 2008. Despite the rise, the number of people convicted for the crime actually fell last year. Only 523 people were found guilty of a disability hate crime in 2011, The Independent has discovered, down 5 per cent from 2010. It suggests that barely one in four reported crimes leads to a conviction – a ratio that got worse last year.
Charities expressed grave concern at the rise in reported incidents. Guy Parckar, head of policy and campaigns at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: “The impact of hate crime simply cannot be overestimated, and these figures suggest that police authorities and local and central government must all look again at what they are doing to tackle disability hate crime.”
Read the full story Independent News
Hate Crime and Children
Hate crime, cyber security and the experience of crime among children: Findings from the 2010/11 British Crime Survey Supplementary Volume 3 to Crime in England and Wales 2010/11
Home Office Statistical Bulletin 06/12 is the third and final in a series of supplementary volumes that accompany the main annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin ‘Crime in England and Wales 2010/11.
This supplementary volume explores topics from the 2010/11 British Crime Survey and provides analysis of the extent of and perceptions towards hate crime, use of the internet and cyber security and experimental statistics on the experience of crime among children aged 10 to 15.
Read full story and files here
Source Home Office
Disability Hate Crime Reporting
Wyre and Lancaster District Hate Crime Porject have a new and up to date website and reporting site for those who live in the District of Lancaster or Wyre Councils you can go onto there website by clicking here or click the logo below to go direct to there reporting site and remember Disability Online can and will support any client who needs the support to report a hate crime and will continue with the support for as long as you need it.
Hate Crime audio description available here the audio is provided by The Crown Prosection Service – CPS
Disability Hate Crime is still a major problem for many disabled people through the UK and the rest of the world.
The good news is that more people are reporting it, but we still need to stop the perpetrators of this crime or any Hate Crime related crime.
Radar, Disability Alliance, National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL), Skill at Disability Rights UK have joined forces and produced some brilliant files and tools for reporting Disability Hate Crime and how to cope with it. Click here to go to there website
Has you will see Disability Online works with Disabled People who have been victims of Hate Crime so if you wanting more advice or guidance then please do get in touch with us by using the details on our contacts page.
Below is some of the files that are available for downloads (these are in pdf)
LSDHC A guide for setting up third party reporting centres.
LSDHC A guide for disabled people.
LSDHC A guide for disabled people final easyread
LSDHC A guide for non disabled people.
At The Mercy Of The Government
A great post in The London Evening Standard written by Ian Birrell
What would you think if you heard the Home Office was colluding with newspapers to fuel hatred against gay people? Or if affable Ken Clarke at the Ministry of Justice fed propaganda to broadcasters designed to disparage ethnic minorities? There would, quite rightly, be an outcry.
This is the issue confronting another minority – and one far more ostracised in society. Ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions, desperate to force through cuts to their budgets, have demonised disabled people with smears designed to give the impression that many are cheats and scroungers.
Daily life is already tough enough for the disabled. A majority of Britons believe most people see them as being inferior. Little wonder they find it harder to get a job, are more likely to live in poverty and, increasingly, are victims of hate crime.
Typical is a case heard last week when a teenager attacked a man walking along the street, shouting: “He’s disabled. He deserves everything he gets.”
The charity Scope has revealed increasing antagonism towards disabled people, with two-thirds saying they have experienced recent abuse.
This dark new mood is terrifying for people who struggle to access things the rest of us take for granted: not just jobs but public transport or a meal out. It destroys confidence and makes people change behaviour; I know one man who barely left home after being targeted and others who always ensure they are back before dark.
Read full story here
Resources Information Files from CPS
Information Pack from Crown Prosecution Service regarding Hate Crime and the packs contain some great resources material for schools
We have put them on even as it covers all Hate Crime.
Hate Crime Resources Pack for Schools
Hate Crime Project for School Signed Language Presentation
Hate Crime Project Schools Subtitled
Hate Crime Project for schools Standard Presentation
David Askew Killed Unlawfully
Well you may of seen or read the tragic story of 64 year old David Askew, who had learning disabilities and lived with his 90 year old mother and his brother who also has a learning disability.
He died of a heart attack in March 2010 after he was subjected to 30 years of horrific bullying and abuse by some of the people “yobs” who lived on the estate in Hattersley in Greater Manchester.
Today Corner John Pollard, (coroner for South Manchester) recorded his death was “UNLAWFUL” and blamed ”feral youths” for the victim’s torment and ruled that despite lawyers deciding no one could be charged with manslaughter.
The family had called the police 88 times between January 2004 and March 2010,
David Askew, who also suffered from heart disease, collapsed and died on March 10 2010 after being pestered for cigarettes.
Youths reportedly thrown a wheelie bin around and tampered with his mother’s mobility scooter.
A 19 year old who lived doors away later pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Askew and was jailed for 16 months last year for the crime.
This crime like many other Disability Hate Crime and Homophobia, Race, Religious Hate Crime brings up more questions than answers, we all remember the story of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter Francecca Hardwick who died after years of torment, read the storyhere
We all need to sit up and take notice, we could all have neighbours, friends or family members who could be going through the same situation unnoticed.
Agencies that are responsible like Social Services, Police, Council all need to question there procedures and safe guarding policy.
You can read the full story here
Remember if your a victim of any hate crime please do report it read more on hate crime on Disability Online Hate Crime page here
Hate Crime “Gemma Hayter”
Today I was sent the below story and it made me sick by the “the crime was unpreventable” I personally think all crime no matter what it is, is preventable, but I do feel that some stories like this highlight the problems around in some areas.
Gemma Hayter case review
On my personal “Hate Crime” last week I came across my letter from the police when I was a victim of “Homophobia & Disability Hate Crime” back in 2002 for quite some time and it made me laugh that the perpetrator received a warning for his actions but I received years of torment and hell for his actions and beyond.
I am one the few people who have been able to move on from “Hate Crime” and do something from my experience and today I am able use this to help other disabled people and victims of “Disability Hate Crime”
However today the police take a stronger stand on any type of Hate Crime, but we also need to establish what is classed as Hate Crime and what is not, but I do fear that the closing of policestations in the Lancashire area which were announced today and this will be a knock on effect towards all types of crime
Hate Crime on the news “Again”
Well I have noticed again “Disability Hate Crime” is in the news again lately and I just wanted to give my own personal story about “Hate Crime” which I have studied and took an interest in since my own experience.
I was bullied throughout my schooling due to my disability and later on in life.
3 years ago I was a victim of “Hate Crime” on to counts (1) Disability (2) Sexuality and if I am honest the local police did nothing to help me with this and I felt and still feel that the police let me down and the perpetrator got a warning so they continued to do to the extent that I moved home and town, in a way they did me a favour because I moved for the better but I know that this shouldn’t have happened.
Since I moved I became involved in my local “Hate Crime” project and became a 3rd party hate crime reporter and I do encourage people who have or being victims of “Hate Crime” and the more people report it the more the police will hopefully sit up and listen.
I know in some areas of UK the police act very good over “Hate Crime” and take it very serious however in some areas the police are still learning so hopefully in the future all police officers will be more helpful towards victims of ALL “Hate Crime”
Hate Crime Figures
Hate Crime reporting is one of the best ways of keeping check on the stats for purposes like the record below as well as having the perpetrator charged and put in front of the courts.
The figures are below show the results of 2010 and do not included the “hate crimes” that are not reported and go un-noticed.
You will see that Disability Hate Crime stands at 1,402 it’s far less that Race Hate Crime which is 43,426, but it’s still 1,402 too many.
All “Hate Crime” needs to be stamped out no matter what and we all need to play a BIG part in stamping out this horrendous crime.
For more information on Hate Crime please visit Disability Online “Hate Crime” page by clickinghere
So in 2010 “Hate crime figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland were published for the first time”
In 2009 a total of 52,028 crimes were recorded in which the offence was motivated by prejudice.
Victims were targeted because of the follow:
- Race,
- Religious belief,
- Sexual orientation,
- Disability
The vast majority were targeted because of their:
- Race – 43,426
- Sexual orientation – 4,805
- Religion/faith – 2,083
- Disability – 1,402
- Transgender – 312.
And 703 crimes were Anti-Semitic.
Mr Otter, ACPO’s lead for equality, diversity and human rights, said: “Hate crimes cause a great deal of harm among victims and communities.
Data was not collated nationally before 2009 ACPO’s says it believes there has been a rise in all five types of hate crime nationally.
At the time of the publication Professor John Grieve CBE, the independent chair of the government’s “Hate Crime Advisory Group”, welcomed the data and said: “It represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the nature and extent of hate crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Prof Grieve, who was a former deputy assistant commissioner with the Metropolitan Police who set up a racial and violent crime task force at Scotland Yard, also said: “The UK is amongst world leaders in the way that it responds to hate crime, but there is still much work to do.
“One of the greatest challenges is to reduce the under-reporting of hate crime”
Campaigners call for action on Disability Hate Crimes.
If your a BBC Northwest viewer you will have seen the Inside Out Northwest programme tonight (Monday 21st November 2011) regarding Gary Skelly, who had learning difficulties and was killed in a street attack in Liverpool this year.
He was made to dance for a cigarette and other crimes against him, as some of you know I was a victim of Hate Crime but unlike Gary I am still here to tell the story.
His family and friends have launched a website called Face Facts Click here to visit there website.
If you want to watch the video click this link and some of the scenes are upsetting, but very important that we all STAMP OUT HATE CRIME.
Equality and Human Rights Commission publishes research on targeted crime
31st October 2011 the Commission have published research.
New research released today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission shows that despite a slight decrease in the number of hate crimes, far too many people are still being targeted for crime and violence because of who they are.
The regulator found that some police forces, local councils and social landlords did not always recognise their role in preventing such incidents. It says that the evidence is a stark reminder to all public authorities of their duty to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful harassment, advance equality and foster good relations.
To read full report and other news from EHRC then please visit there website by clicking here
Report it
Report it organisation have published data on figures of hate crime reported over 2010 in each region
The data relates to ‘recordable crimes’ under Home Office recording rules and indicates those offences that have been perceived as hate crimes by the victim or any other person. Crimes were recoded from 1st January to 31st December 2010 in all police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Police Service is committed to reducing the under-reporting of hate crime and would view increases in this data as a positive indicator, so long as it reflects an increase in reporting and not an increase in the actual incidence of crime which we strive to reduce.
For more information on Report it then please check there website by clicking here
Mother Lisa Carroll, takes her fight to have a Facebook group removed to her local paper, and today, Thursday 19th Goole Times published her story to have a Facebook group removed.
She had also took her fight to the police last week, however the police said that if the owner of the group is not in the UK then it would be hard to do anything about it.
The group which can be viewed here mocks people with Downs Syndrome and Lisa has a daughter with Downs and she, like many people have been affected by this group and have tried to have it removed without much success.
We came across Lisa some weeks back after she posted her concerns on a Hate Crime group page and due to the nature of her concern the group admin felt that they were unable to help.
At the time, Lisa said that she was trying to get a group removed on Facebook as it is inciting hatred against disabled people. “I personally find this group distressing as i’m a mum to a wonderfull little girl who has down syndrome”.
You can show your support for Lisa by clicking on the picture.
Disability Online is a Hate-Crime Free website and organisation.
We DO NOT condone any type of hated towards anyone wheather they are Disabled or not, we are all free to live the way we wish to however some of us don’t have any choice to the way our lives go and how we are born.
Lily was born with Downs Syndrome like many other children up and down the country and across the world, her mum Lisa says Lily is a lovely and affectionate child, but why do people feel that they can set up groups mocking people who are like Lily?
We are a Disability Organisation who help everyone with a disability and we come across “Disability Hate Crime” nearly every week so we are used to stories about different crimes being committed but this story has affected so many people in such a short time.
We all know someone who is disabled and maybe someone with Downs, so we shouldn’t allow this kind of group to be allowed to be on a public website like Facebook.
Photo- Goole Times.
