Hate crimes against the disabled in Dorset reach a record high

Hate crimes against disabled people in Dorset reached a record high last year, new figures reveal.

Disability charity Leonard Cheshire has called for tougher action on the "abhorrent" crime, after joint analysis carried out with United Response found only around 2% of disability hate incidents result in a charge or summons nationally.

Home Office data shows 77 disability hate crimes were recorded by Dorset Police in 2019-20.

That was up by 18% compared to the previous year, when 65 incidents were reported, and the highest figure since comparable records began in 2011-12.

Reports can include assault, harassment and criminal damage against someone with a physical or learning disability, or mental health problem.

A total 747 hate crimes of any type were recorded by Dorset's officers in the year to March – up 3% on 2018-19.

Disability-related incidents accounted for 10% of those, while the majority (65%) were racially motivated.

Superintendent Gavin Dudfield is the Hate Crime Lead for Dorset Police. He said:

"We know that more people are reporting hate crime to police forces and I'm pleased to see people have the courage to report that.

"There's also been improvements in the way that we recorded our crime and investigate crime so the figures reflect that more people are sadly suffering crime but we do have a number of dedicated officers to deal with that increase and support victims through the journey."

"To tackle hate crimes we invest a lot of training in our first responders, so people to take the calls or read reports online for victims of hate crime, and we have dedicated officers who provide support to individuals who suffer hate crime and provide guidance to investigators.

"We also work really closely with a lot of our partners to ensure we can bring him bring offenders to justice, but also to ensure there are support services and agencies to look after victims and their families and to ensure there's no place for hate in Dorset."

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, hate crime lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said it is still concerning to see that people are being targeted for who they are.

“Over recent years police have worked hard to improve our response to hate crime, including better recording of offences and more training for officers," he added.

“Everyone has the right to live their lives without fear of being attacked, either physically or verbally. Police take all reports of threats and abuse seriously and we will work to bring perpetrators to justice."

The Home Office said those who commit “hateful attacks should feel the full force of the law”.