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Fears Government Cuts & Media Coverage will increase Disability Hate Crime

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Fears Government Cuts & Media Coverage

will increase Disability Hate Crime

 

Fears have been expressed that there might be an increase in Disability Hate Crime as a result of the findings of a poll held by Ipsos MORI in association with Mencap and the fierce debate about the proposed disability reforms by the Coalition Government and the subsequent media coverage.

 

From Mencap Website, Wednesday 20 April 2011

Case for benefit reform should not be made at expense of disabled people

Nearly half (49%) of the British public think that cuts to services and public spending may make people who receive disability benefits more open to abuse or attack, according to an Ipsos MORI poll for Mencap. About 3 in 5 members (61%) of the British public believe that cuts may make some people angry at those who receive disability benefits.

These findings suggest that the public believes that people receiving disability benefits face a more hostile climate as a result of the government's focus on cutting public spending.

Consequently, Mencap is calling for the government to provide leadership in demonstrating the contribution people with a disability make to society, rather than focusing on the state support they receive.

Mark Goldring, Chief Executive of Mencap, said: "These findings suggest that respondents believe that people with genuine disabilities may be at risk of hostility from some members of the public. The government has a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to protect people with a disability from direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Generally, there has been a disproportionate focus on the very few people who have defrauded the system rather than those who need state support like Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in order to participate in society. The Department of Work and Pensions' own figures show a fraud rate of 0.5% for Disability Living Allowance."

The support provided by benefits like Disability Living Allowance (DLA) takes into account the additional cost of having a disability. People with a learning disability often need the extra support DLA provides to do everyday things that people without a disability take for granted, like shopping for groceries, getting to work, or even just getting out of the house.

Mr Goldring continued: "There is a need for reform in the benefit system, but the case for reform should not be made at the expense of those who legitimately need state support. While undoubtedly there have been a few high-profile examples of fraud, this does not change the fact that people with disabilities do legitimately require support."

Mencap is part of the Hardest Hit campaign, organised jointly by the UK Disabled People's Council and the Disability Benefits Consortium, bringing together individuals and over 40 organisations to send a clear message to the Government: stop these cuts. Thousands will be marching in Westminster on 11 May to highlight how disabled people, those with long-term conditions and their families are being hit hard by cuts to the benefits and services they need to live their lives. More information is available at www.hardesthit.org.uk

Please find link to original article:

http://www.mencap.org.uk/news.asp?id=21480&pageno=&year=&menuId=91

 

 

Concerns are expressed about the Ipsos MORI Mencap poll on the Community Care Website, Wednesday 20 April 2011 

Cuts could turn disabled people into hate figures  

Over 60% of the public say that cuts will lead to disabled people being the subject of public anger, a poll by Ipsos MORI for Mencap finds.

What's more, 49% say disabled people will be more vulnerable to hate crime attacks.

As this is a poll of the public, not disabled people, it's difficult to know if this is merely a fear, or a statement of intent.

Of course, it takes more than just cuts to draw people's crosshairs of hate towards disabled people. Mark Goldring. chief executive of Mencap, makes the point:

"Generally, there has been a disproportionate focus on the very few people who have defrauded the system rather than those who need state support like Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in order to participate in society. The Department of Work and Pensions' own figures show a fraud rate of 0.5 per cent for Disability Living Allowance."

However, I worry the subtleties of this statistical argument may be lost of the baying mob that his pollsters have tracked down

Please find original article:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/adult-care-blog/2011/04/cuts-could-turn-checked= 

 

 

The Broken Of Britian pay reference to the Ipsos MORI Mencap poll and the article on the Community Care website on Wednesday 20 April 2011

Attitudes to Disability And Hate Crime

.....However, the question that caught my eye was this:

"An example here is the Disability Living Allowance - sometimes referred to as DLA - which is a tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled. From what you may have heard about people who claim disability benefits from the UK Government, which of the following, if any, comes closest to YOUR view?”

3% would agree that all DLA claimants are genuinely disabled

36% would agree that most DLA claimants are genuinely disabled

52% would agree that some DLA claimants are genuinely disabled

& some are bogus

3% would agree that most DLA claimants are bogus

5% don't know whether DLA claimants are genuinely disabled or bogus

The 36% figure for those who would agree that most claims are genuine seems heartening.

But a question mark lies over the 52% who agree that some claimants are genuine, some are bogus.

I am unsure whether this means that these people are open to argument, and it is up to us to sway them with the fact that DLA fraud runs at 0.5%? What do you think?

Please find original article here:

http://thebrokenofbritain.blogspot.com

Meanwhile in The Telegraph on 3 March 2011

Top prosecutor signals crack down on disability hate crime

People who name call and verbally abuse disabled people can expect to be prosecuted for hate crime, the UK's top prosecutor said.

Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, warned name calling, mimicking and bullying of disabled people are all crimes but not enough victims realise.

He urged more to come forward with reports of abuse and called on society to change its attitude and stop dismissing such attacks as "routine”.

He also admitted prosecutors are "still in the foothills” when it comes to prosecuting such offences and signalled a tougher stance.

Last month the Conservative MP Paul Maynard, who has cerebral palsy, said he felt he was mocked by MPs on the floor of the House of Commons during a debate.

He was later said to have supported a decision by John Bercow, the Speaker, to take no further action.

In 2007, Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her severely disabled daughter Francesca, 18, in Leicestershire, after years of abuse from yobs.

In a speech to Sussex Law School last night, Mr Starmer said:

"Many disabled people do not appreciate that constant name calling, mimicking and bullying which often escalates to more serious forms of harassment and violence are criminal activities. That may be because such behaviour is so widespread as to be considered routine. The idea of people being targeted as a victim of crime because of their disability is still relatively new. It is not fully understood by the general public and, more surprisingly perhaps, is not always recognised by the victims of such behaviour or by those with responsibility for dealing with it. Unless we as a society recognise and confront this issue there is little prospect of more cases coming into the system and we will have missed a valuable opportunity to tackle this important area.”

Studies suggest almost one in four disabled people experience harassment in public, including 90 per cent of people with a learning disability.

However, Mr Starmer said prosecutors charged in 506 cases last year compared with 9,214 for race or religious hatred offences and 907 for homophobic hate crimes.

He highlighted one case where a girl who wore an eye patch was called a "fat pirate”.

But he also admitted that prosecutors themselves have been guilty of not tackling the issue firmly enough with some guilty of assuming the victims will not make reliable witnesses.

He added: "Disability hate crime strikes at all disabled people by undermining their sense of safety and security in the community. For this reason disability hate crime should be regarded as particularly serious. Such crimes are based on ignorance, prejudice, discrimination and hate and they have no place in an open and democratic society.”

Please see the original article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8357820/Top-prosecutor-signals-crack-down-on-disability-hate-crime.html

 

The Royal Association for Disability Rights, 15 April 2011

Stop Disability Hate Crime Project Update

I did not expect there to be any earth shattering revelations from Radar's survey on the experiences of disabled people reporting disability hate crime. It has simply reinforced our understanding of the barriers that disabled people face at every step of the way when they try to report a disability hate crime.

We have heard from disabled victims who believe that they should just put up with the crime, or change the how they live to avoid it. This can be reinforced by friends, family or those people who work for the victim because they are under the misapprehension that by ignoring it they are ‘protecting' the disabled person from further crimes.

Friends, family and professionals can act as barriers to reporting in other ways: for example, if they don't understand what a disability hate crime is or how to report it. Research tells us that a victim of disability hate crime is more likely to tell a friend or family member, rather than the police, about the crime. If the person that they tell doesn't recognise it as a disability hate crime and doesn't know how to report it: nothing can be done about it.

The fear of reprisals is also a barrier to reporting. When a disabled person has been the victim of disability hate crime: they can be worried that if they report the crime the person committing the crimes, or the perpetrators' friends, might target them further.

Finally and most importantly, disabled people are concerned that if they report disability hate crime to the police, or the appropriate authority, they will not be believed or treated sympathetically. This can be for a range of reasons not least the person who is taking the report have their own prejudices about disabled people.

Negative attitudes and a lack of understanding can have a much wider impact on reporting than just the person who is making a report. We have anecdotal evidence that disabled people who have been treated badly when trying to report a disability hate crime: will discuss their experience with others and that may deter them from reporting a hate crime as well.

If we are to do anything about disability hate crime we must break down these barriers, we must not accept the status quo. We need to show the authorities that this is a major issue that they need to do something about. The only way we can do that is by making sure that every disability hate crime and incident is recorded.

At a personal level reporting a hate crime will increase the likelihood that the person committing the crime will be caught and brought to justice.

At a local level reporting crime, and especially disability hate crime, will enable the local police forces and other authorities to get a better picture of disability hate crime in their area and they will be able to use that information to better tackle it.

At a regional and national level if the numbers of recorded disability hate crimes increases: regional, and national, authorities will have to do more to tackle it.

We must also focus on the positive and bang the drum where there is good practice! If a police force, local authority or disabled person's organisation are doing something that is breaking down those barriers we must make sure that others hear about it.

Earlier this month I attended a road show in Waterlooville, Hampshire. It was run in partnership between Hampshire Police, disabled people's organisations and local authorities. The key aims of the road show was to engage with people with learning disabilities to break down the barriers to reporting crime; increase awareness of disability hate crime; and build trust and confidence in the police.

I was allowed to observe one of two workshops held on the day and led by PC Sarah Kedge, and Kerry Utting from Havant Borough Council. They invited people with learning difficulties to talk about their experiences of crime in general and specifically disability hate crime. They were also able to discuss their experiences of dealing with the police. During the discussions the workshop leaders were able to use those experiences to explain why disability hate crime needed to be reported and how to report it.

But this is not just a talking shop. I know that previous workshops have had a more direct impact on Hampshire's policing of potential disability hate incidents and crimes. They have been able to use some of the information from the discussions to highlight specific local issues for disabled people. This intelligence has been used to improve how they tackle those disability hate crimes or incidents.

This is just one example. There are plenty more around the country and I have spoken to some extremely passionate people all working to break down the barriers and Stop Disability Hate Crime.

So if you know about a project, or work, that is breaking down the barriers to reporting disability hate crimes please e-mail:

StopDHC@Radar.org.uk

Or by post:

StopDHC Radar, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, LONDON EC1V 8AF

James Pool Public Affairs (Hate Crime) Officer

Please find original article here:

http://radarnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/04/stop-disability-hate-crime-project.html 

Hate Crime Assistance from Equality Cumbria

If you have any concerns that you might have been a victim of Disability Hate Crime, or Religion or Race Related Hate Crime, or Homophobic Hate Crime, please report it using the "Report an Incident” button on the homepage of the Equality Cumbria website.

You will receive the support of one of our specialist Development Workers and it will be your choice whether you want to report it to the police or not although, you will receive assistance if you wish to report the incident and you have any fears about doing this.

Please remember that Hate Crime can include name calling, verbal abuse & unfair treatment as well as physical attack & damage to personal property and can be based on either an actual protected characteristic or it can be based on a perceived, or assumed protected characteristic.

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