Disability hate is the great unreported crime

Police forces are failing to make an impact upon disability hate crime, according to the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorate (CJJI), despite having been urged to take steps in a 2013 Joint Review by the public body.

In its follow-up report,CJJI seeks to renew the national focus on this issue and bring more effective pressure on police forces that, despite previous advice, have failed to undertake formal reviews.

Alarmingly, statistics show that more than 90 per cent of these crimes are never reported. In contrast with Crime Survey for England and Wales’ (CSEW) estimated figures of 62,000, only 1,985 disability-motivated hate crimes were reported in 2013–14, with Home Office figures showing that nine police force areas had less than ten reports in total.

HM chief inspector, Kevin McGinty, said: "The key message of the 2013 review, that there was a need for leaders of the 43 police forces, the CPS and probation service providers to understand disability hate crime’s unique features and ensure additional focus and attention is given to this important area at an operational level, has yet to gain sufficient traction. Real change across the criminal justice agencies has not yet fully materialised, although the CPS Chief Executive has now assumed personal responsibility for driving improvement.

"The agencies must ensure that, despite the difficult and complex competing demands they currently face, they set an agenda to ensure that performance in relation to disability hate crime is improved. This is a necessity and not an option as the criminal justice agencies have an obligation to tackle the underlying prejudice and ignorance that drives all hate crime."

Responding to the report’s findings, director of corporate affairs at Leonard Cheshire Disability, Andy Cole, said: “Disability hate crime is devastating for disabled people, and its impact cannot be underestimated. As well as the terrible impact of violence and harassment on the lives of disabled people, too often disability hate crime leaves people isolated and vulnerable, unable to lead independent lives because of the ongoing threat of violence.

“It is extremely concerning that the police, prosecutors and probation services have not made any meaningful progress in their efforts to deal with disability hate crime over the past two years. This report must act as a wakeup call. When only 2,000 victims of disability hate crime out of an estimated 62,000 report their experiences to the police, it is clear that something is seriously wrong.”