Local London Assembly Member shines light on underreported disability hate crime
Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, used Mayor’s Question Time today (Thursday 17th January) to raise awareness of disability hate crime, which largely goes unreported. Mr Desai has vowed to “work tirelessly”, alongside the Mayor and Metropolitan Police, “to ensure that victims of disability hate crime are given the adequate support to come forward, and that all cases are fully investigated”.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates that disability hate crime constitutes around a third of all hate crimes committed. However, according to police recorded crime figures, only 7% of all hate crimes are categorised disability hate crimes.
In London, there is a clear disparity between the numbers of recorded crimes for different forms of hate crime. Over the whole of 2018, 417 disability hate crimes were recorded by the Metropolitan Police, a figure which starkly contrasts with 16,567 race and religious hate crimes recorded over the same period.
On a local level, there were 18 disability hate crimes recorded in Tower Hamlets, compared to 740 race and religious hate crimes.
At Mayor’s Question Time today, Mr Desai asked the Mayor of London whether the prevalence of this abhorrent crime is likely to be higher than the figures suggest.
In response, the Mayor agreed that the true scale of disability hate crime in the capital is likely to be higher than the Met Police figures show, and reaffirmed his commitment to tackle the issue.
The percentage of sanction detections, or number of crimes ‘solved’, for disability hate crimes is also lower than other forms of hate crime. Figures obtained by Mr Desai through a written question to the Mayor of London show that over 2017/18, the sanction detection rate for disability hate crimes was only 7% in the capital, less than half the rate for all recorded hate crime.
Research by the disability charity, Dimensions, showed that almost three-quarters of people with learning disabilities or autism have experienced hate crime. The research also revealed that almost half of victims interviewed did not report these crimes.
Encouraging people to come forward to report instances of hate crime, and for the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to tackle it wherever it occurs, is one of Unmesh Desai’s pledges as part of his ‘Policing London: Vision for a Safety City’ campaign
Local Labour Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, said:
“It is very concerning that so few incidents of disability hate crime are reported to the police. Sadly, we know that the prevalence of this abhorrent crime is likely to be higher than the figures suggest.
“It is vital that London politicians and community leaders work together with the police and the third sector to increase our understanding of this issue and how best to improve our response.
“The contrast between the number of these crimes reported, when compared with other forms of hate crime, is stark, particularly so when taking into consideration the estimated total number of crimes being committed against some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
“I will work tirelessly alongside the Mayor and Metropolitan Police to ensure that victims of disability hate crime are given the adequate support to come forward, and that the police have the skills and resources they need to fully investigate all cases.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes
- At Mayor’s Question Time today, Unmesh Desai AM, raised the issues of the underreporting of disability hate crime. A recording of today’s Mayor’s Question Time session can be found here;
- The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in agreement with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), defines a disability hate crime as any crime, which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability or perceived disability;
- More information about hate crime and how to report it to the Metropolitan Police can be found here;
- Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales on Disability Hate Crime can be found in the Home Office report;
- According to the Metropolitan Police Hate Crime Dashboard, over the whole of 2018, 417 disability hate crimes were recorded by the Met. 16,567 race and religious hate crimes recorded over the same period;
- There were 18 disability hate crimes recorded in Tower Hamlets, compared to 740 race and religious hate crimes;
- The percentage of sanction detections, or number of crimes ‘solved’, for disability hate crimes is also lower than other forms of hate crime. Figures obtained by Mr Desai through a written question to the Mayor of London show that over 2017/18, the sanction detection rate for disability hate crimes was only 7% in the capital, less than half the rate for all recorded hate crime;
- Research by the disability charity Dimensions showed that 73% of people with learning disabilities or autism have experienced hate crime. The research also revealed that 48% of victims interviewed did not report these crimes;
- Unmesh Desai AM is the London Assembly Member for City and East.
For more information, please contact Research and Support Officer Nicholas Wilson on 020 7983 4401. Number not for publication.