Hate crime plan criticised for not sufficiently protecting people with learning disabilities
Posted 27 July 2016 - 11:38
New government measures to tackle hate crime do not go far enough to protect people with learning disabilities, according to the chief executive of a care provider.
Measures in the government’s Hate Crime Action Plan, announced on 26 July, include assessing policing pilots that changed how hate crimes against disabled people were recorded, and looking at best practice examples in tackling disability hate crime.
Steve Scown of Dimensions, a not-for-profit organisation working with 3,500 people with learning disabilities and autism, welcomed the plan but said it needed additional measures.
These should include a well-funded public awareness programme, steps to make it easier for people with learning disabilities to report hate crimes and a green paper on stronger legislation to protect vulnerable people.
He said: ‘Hate crime robs people of their confidence, their independence and, sometimes, their lives.’