This National Hate Crime Awareness Week, we’re looking at Disability Hate Crime.
What is a Hate Crime?
A Hate Incident is an act of hostility conducted against someone because they are in some way different.
A Hate Crime is the same as the above, except a crime has also been committed. For example, preventing someone from using an accessible seat on a bus is a Hate Incident. But if someone prevents someone from using an accessible seat and is abusive about it, that is a Hate Crime.
Abusing someone is a crime under the Public Order Act 1986. Abusing someone because they have a protected characteristic is an aggravated crime because the victims suffer more significant psychological damage, and the effects are likely to be prolonged.
Protected characteristics
- Race or ethnicity
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
- Religion
- Disability
What is a Disability Hate Crime?
Disability Hate Crimes are often different from other hate offences in that they are often carried out by friends, family members or carers. When a Disability Hate Crime is done by someone the disabled person knows, this can mean it is less likely that the crime is reported. Disability Hate Crime is happening in public, in people’s homes and in care homes. Disability Hate Crime not only causes immediate upset, but longer-term, this type of attack can cause deep psychological damage. Examples of hostility might include:
- Abuse.
- Name-calling.
- Blocking accessibility.
- Removing equipment.
- Violence.
Reporting these incidents and crimes is important if you want these attacks to stop and you want justice.
Reporting a Hate Incident or Crime
Report an Incident or Crime to the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
In Kingston Borough, you can report a Hate Incident or Crime using KREC’s online reporting form https://kingstonrec.org/report-hate-crime-or-racist-abuse/
