- Conference
- 2014 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 4 July 2014
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference condemns the continuing rise in hate crimes against disabled people in Northern Ireland. In 2011 more than 2,000 such offences were recorded here – up a third on 2010. Research by shows that nine out of 10 people with a learning disability had been a victim.
Victims of disability hate crime continue to be let down at every stage of the criminal justice system. Too often it is overlooked and under-reported by the police, probation and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with many disabled victims feeling that their reports are not taken seriously or acted upon.
The Disability Conference calls on the National Disabled Members Committee to work with the Disability Group and other disability organisations in a campaign:
1)to pressure the police, probation and CPS to work together to address these serious and continued failings and to ensure that their front-line staff participate in disability hate crime training;
2)to lobby for a single, clear and uncomplicated definition of disability hate crime to reduce confusion.