Disability Hate-Crime Victims 'Are Being Failed'

By Richard Suchet, Sky News Reporter

The criminal justice system is failing the victims of disability hate crime, according to a report.

An inspection of the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the probation service has found that incidents of both physical and verbal abuse of the mentally disabled are hugely under-reported, particularly compared to race or religious hate crimes.

The inspectors believe that, in many cases, officers and control-room staff are reluctant or "too embarrassed" to ask victims if they are disabled.

It means crimes carried out against people because of their disability often go undetected.

They also uncovered widespread confusion about what exactly a disability hate crime is.

The lack of clarity leads to inconsistencies in the way the offence is recorded and investigated.

CPS chief inspector Michael Fuller said: "We're recommending there be one definition that all practitioners work to and that we clear up this confusion that currently exists."

In addition, the report recommends the three agencies consider further training for frontline staff.

Fiona Pilkington (L) killed her disabled daughter Francecca Hardwick

It also says the CPS should put regular checks in place to ensure the accuracy of its data relating to disability hate crime, while probation trusts should tackle the issue among known offenders.

Mr Fuller said he will also recommend that the Law Commission looks at creating a standalone offence for dealing with disability hate crime.

He said: "It would help with the awareness of practitioners because they would have a specific offence to work to and it would help victims in terms that they feel their concerns and the experiences they've suffered can be taken more seriously by the authority."

The joint review, carried out by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Inspectorate of Probation, was prompted by the case of Fiona Pilkington.

The Leicestershire woman killed herself and her disabled daughter, Francecca Hardwick, in 2007 following a decade of abuse.

The Home Office insists it has improved the way police forces collect and record data on hate crimes, including those against disabled people.

"We will keep working with disability groups to ensure victims have the confidence to come forward," it said in a statement.

"The Government's hate crime action plan brings together work by a wide range of departments and agencies to prevent these terrible crimes happening in the first place, to increase reporting and victim support, and to improve the operational response."

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