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What is disability hate crime?

Hate crimes and incidents are taken to mean any crime or incident where the perpetrator's prejudice against an identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised.

So any incident or crime, which is perceived to be motivated because of a person's disability or perceived disability, by the victim or any other person, will be classed as hate crime.

Why should I report disability hate crime?

Hate crimes and incidents hurt; they can be confusing and frightening. By reporting them when they happen to you, you may be able to prevent these
 incidents from happening to someone else.

You will also help the police understand the extent of hate crime in your local area so they can better respond to it.

How can I report a disability hate crime?

There are lots of ways you can report hate crime:

  • In an emergency, call 999.
  • Contact the police, either by telephone or by visiting your local policestation.
  • Report online using the facility on the True Vision website at www.report-it.org.uk.
  • Tell someone like Voice UK or your local Citizens Advice Bureau who can report the incident on your behalf and provide you with advice and support.
  • If you do not want to talk to the police, you can still report a hate crime by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

What crimes can I report?

All hate crimes and incidents should be reported, whether you have been a victim, a witness or you are reporting on behalf of someone else.

These incidents may include verbal abuse, physical assault, domestic abuse, harassment and damage to property.

How will the Police and CPS treat disability hate crime?

The Police and other criminal justice agencies treat all hate crime very seriously. The Police have performance targets and measures in place to ensure the service they offer is of the highest standard.

When a case is prosecuted, the courts can impose a stronger sentence under powers from the Criminal Justice Act. The Crown Prosecution Service is the organisation that takes cases through the court system. They have produced guidance on Disability Hate Crime that is available on the CPS website.