Scope responds to new report on disability hate crime

A new report finds that victims of disability hate crime are being let down by the criminal justice system, and that progress to improve their experience of reporting offences has been too slow. The report is the result of a joint inspection of the police, probation and Crown Prosecution Service.

Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of Scope, responds to the findings:

“Yet another report highlights real failure amongst police forces and the crown prosecution service in tackling disability hate crime.

“Our polling has shown that attitudes towards disabled people have deteriorated over recent years with many disabled people experiencing harassment, hostility and abuse on a regular basis.

“We know that if unchallenged these low level incidents can often escalate into more serious crimes.

“For years now report after report points to the need for better training and awareness amongst frontline staff across police forces and the CPS. Why is progress in this area so slow?

“We need to better understand why disabled people are being targeted in the first place and changing attitudes and probation trusts can play a big role here.

“But we also need to build disabled people’s confidence in the justice system and this can only come from better support throughout the process – from initial reporting, through to prosecutions and sentencing where necessary.

“Yet disabled people are continuing to see low levels of prosecutions and little use of the additional sentencing provisions available to the CPS.

“Issues such as a lack of consistent definition of disability and a sensitivity amongst frontline staff to ask people if they are disabled are poor excuses and can be easily solved if there is genuine intention to tackle disability hate crime.

“Until disabled people see the levels of prosecutions for disability hate crimes rise, they will continue to have little confidence that crimes against them will be taken seriously.