Stand by Me End hate crime against people with a learning disability

Any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility or prejudice based upon the victim's disability or perceived disability If you think it is, it is! Also if a friend or family member is targeted because of another person’s disability, this is also a hate crime What is a disability hate crime?

What is it? - name calling - frightening you - shoving or pushing - hurting you - stealing from you Ignorance, prejudice or wanting to take advantage because you are disabled What is disability hate crime?

- In 2007, Fiona Pilkington killed herself and her daughter, Francesca - They had been bullied for over 10 years because of Francesca’s learning disability. - Ignored by the police and social services, they couldn’t cope anymore. Why do we need to act?

- Youths targeted David Askew’s home in They vandalised the family’s property - Mr Askew collapsed and died - Family were targeted for years because of their vulnerability - 88 reported incidents from 2004 – Greater Manchester Police criticised Why do we need to act?

- A 17 year old with Asperger’s syndrome was tortured for three days - He was beaten, force-fed large amounts of alcohol and covered in dog mess. - The three men who did this to him got just 80 hours community service Why do we need to act?

Most cases never come to court Cases like this don’t happen every day In the main, people are putting up with repeated low level intimidation It may not even look like a crime About 9 out of 10 people with a learning disability say they have been the victim of hostility and bullying at some time We can only guess how many cases go unreported We cannot let this continue

The big issue Disability hate crime is still Overlooked Under-reported Mistaken for other sorts of crime We all have a role to play

3 year campaign from 2011 Launch year & ongoing - the police - the public - people with a learning disability Further years – courts local authorities government

Some forces doing great work but in others - Learning disability is still not understood - People don’t get enough support - Disability hate crime not a priority - Not recording disability hate crime - Better strategies & joined up work needed Stand by me launch Why the Police?

Don’t stand by – research into police practice 14 police services across England took part in our research into how police respond to disability hate crime Recommendations made around strategy, structures, dedicated hate crime officers, partnership working, specific dhc policies, training, consistent recording, 3 rd party reporting

Stand by me – police promise We want police services to promise to stand by people with a learning disability to end hate crime

Stand by me – police promise key points 1. Make information easy to understand 2. Improve evidence-gathering, interview time 3. Understand more about learning disability 4. Respect and involve families and carers 5. Challenge discriminatory language/attitudes 6. Keep people up-to-date 7. Recognise that disability hate crime is important 8. Don’t label as anti-social behaviour 9. Invite people with a learning disability to beat meetings 10. Display the Stand by me promises

One month after our launch… 1.Bromley Police 2.Croydon Police 3.Devon and Cornwall Police 4.Durham Constabulary 5.Dyfed-Powys Police 6.Greater Manchester Police 7.Hertfordshire Constabulary 8.Kent Police 9.Lincolnshire Police 10.Merseyside Police 11. Norfolk Constabulary 12. Northamptonshire Police 13. Northumbria Police 14. Nottinghamshire Police 15. South Yorkshire Police 16. Suffolk Constabulary 17. Sussex Police 18. Warwickshire Police 19. West Midlands Police Out of 43 in England & Wales

How you can help Sign the petition Ask people you know to sign it We’ll use them locally and take them to Parliament Make disability hate crime a priority whenever you come across it

Maggie Graham Regional campaigns officer phone Learning Disability Helpline – Telephone Contact information