HATE crime against people with disabilities is happening daily in York but is chronically under reported, city and police leaders have warned.

Incidents of reported hate crime are low in York, with only one recorded police incident between April to December last year. But North Yorkshire Police Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan thinks this is because victims are not coming forward.

Acting chief constable Tim Madgwick also expressed such concerns at a City of York Council meeting last month.

He said: “There are people who are disabled who are still being abused in this city on a daily basis.”

In a bid to tackle the problem of under-reporting of hate crime, the council is launching a hate-crime strategy due to go before cabinet on April 2, which aims to raise awareness of the problem to encourage more people to report crimes, to support victims and to better record data about incidents.

Lynn Jeffries, councillor for the Hull Road ward and co-chair of the York Independent Living Network, said: “Unfortunately, people with learning disabilities have been victims of hate crime, with people shouting things in the street. People think they are cracking jokes and of course it’s not funny at the receiving end of it.

“I think people become afraid to go out.

“I remember going up Coney Street in a wheelchair and a gang of lads saying ‘get out and walk’.

“It makes you feel horrible because you are the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons.”

Council cabinet members will be asked to approve the hate-crime strategy, which has been written following consultation with 30 organisations or groups.

Hate crime can be against older people, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, people with disabilities, minority ethnic groups and can extend to bullying in school.

Councillor Dafydd Williams, the council’s cabinet member for crime and stronger communities, said: “Although reported hate crime figures may be low within the city, it still exists and this strategy acknowledges this under-reporting.

“It is therefore timely that the strategy has been refreshed and developed from which future multi-agency work can be developed consistently and in collaboration with partners.”

Mrs Mulligan said: “Hate crime is a dreadful experience and while numbers may appear to be relatively low, we are concerned victims are not coming forward.

“To help ensure such crimes are reported, we are making it as easy as we can for victims through accessible, discreet and confidential reporting centres, such as those at the York People First Office or the York Racial Equality Network office.”

She said her police and crime plan was committed to tackling crime through encouraging more people to go to the police and bring offenders to justice.


‘Vitriol’ against disabled

KATE Precious, the mum of two children with disabilities, said she was well aware of the prejudice people with disabilities can face.

Ms Precious, 33, who lives near Osbaldwick, said her four-year-old daughter had scoliosis and her 12-year-old son had cerebal palsy, a neurological condition which affects a child’s movement and coordination and which has led him to be victim of some cruel bullying.

Ms Precious said she believed it was a problem which had become worse because of a perception of people with disabilities being benefit cheats.

She said: “I am aware there is now a lot of vitriol towards disabled people and children due to the benefits they receive and money spent to improve their lives, but I believe this comes from ignorance and misunderstanding.

“I am the mother of two disabled children who in their short lives have achieved many remarkable things. Both have had major surgery and fought to recover with tenacity and courage. My son is now able to walk after previously not being able to before his op.

“The answer is to teach people about it. Society can be quite ignorant. Generally people do have empathy. Most people are kind and helpful, but one or two are awful.”