‘Disability hate crime has no place in 21st century Britain’

Disabled speaker at national delegate conference

Photo: Steve Forrest

 

Conference delegates spoke passionately today about the fear and suffering caused by disability hate crime.

UNISON undertook to campaign for disability hate crime to be treated in the same way as other forms of hate crime, calling on police and crime commissioners to make such offences a priority.

There are thousands of incidents every week of physical abuse or harassment against people because of their physical disability, sensory impairment, learning disability or mental health.

Proposing the motion, Suzanne Williams of the national disabled members committee, told delegates that “disability hate crime has no place in 21st century Britain.”

Ms Williams said that welfare reforms and cuts were putting many disabled people under unfair pressure, with “escalating rhetoric against them”. Many were attacked due to their disability, many others were frightened to leave their homes.

She said it was vital that disability hate crime be punished with the same severity as other hate crimes. At the same time, UNISON needed to offer branches and stewards information that would help them support disabled members in the workplace, for example when seeking time off to recover from physical attacks, and to receive counselling.

Isobel McVicar of the NEC commented that “hate crime of whatever kind is shocking to anyone who believes in a civilized society. But disability hate crime targets the most vulnerable in our society, many who are unable to speak up for themselves or are not listened to by the authorities.”

She cited the example of Fiona Pilkington, who killed herself and her daughter in 2007 after suffering years of attacks and harassment by local youths. “Fiona had complained to police for 10 years and been ignored. She could see no way out. But if police had taken action the situation could have been so different, and she could still be alive now.”

The motion also calls on police authorities and polioce and crime commissioners to make nsure that the processes for seeking advice and registering complaints included British sign language and appropriate formats for those with learning difficulties.

And the union will urge PCCs and the chair of the Scottish Police Authority to explore the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 with a view to campaigning for similar legislation to be introduced in England and Wales.

 

UNISON disabled members