Disability hate crime on Radio 4
An ongoing story of the last few years has been the rise in disability hate crime. We've covered it here on Ouch - check out the links at the end of this post - and notice it frequently when updating our news page three times a week, as more and more stories come to our attention.
Tonight (Tuesday) on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 at 8.00pm, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News website's disability affairs correspondent Geoff Adams-Spink presents The Hidden Crime of Hate. In spite of some disturbing high-profile cases, the criminal justice system is failing to address the problem and apply the law. Recent legislation gave courts the power to increase sentences in cases when a crime can be demonstrated to have been motivated by hostility towards someone's disability. In reality, this sentencing provision has hardly ever been used.
That's tonight at 8.00pm on Radio 4. And don't forget that, if you miss it, you can catch up via the iPlayer.
Related Ouch links:
• An old word for a growing problem by Tom Shakespeare;
• Tackling crime against disabled people by Ian Cook;
• My story: deafblind street attack by Liz Ball;
• Ouch Q&A #12: Bullying by Rob Crossan.
Comment number 1.
At 19th Aug 2008, Chris_Page wrote:A very disturbing programme - most disturbing was the complacency of the Police interviewed. How are these crimes to be solved if those responsible for solving them fail to recognise even the clearest motivation behind them?
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Comment number 2.
At 22nd Aug 2008, Member_The_Disabled wrote:The best programme I have ever listened to. Frightening that these people endure the same as I do. I took exception to the remark that Barbara Franklin made she claimed that it had been fuelled by drink and drugs. What a cop out making these remarks. She should be ashamed of herself.
We all Know why Brent and others were killed it was because these people had learning or physical disabilities and its disability hatred.
The police should accept that people with disabilities are being targeted but they are frightened to admit it. Like they were frightened to admit that Stephen Lawerence was murder was a racially movtivated attack.
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