Neighbourhood Watch is working to highlight the issue of Disability Hate Crime within our communities.
We’ve teamed up with the Disability Hate Crime Network (DHCN) to provide our supporters with information and resources to help people better understand the impact and extent of this issue in our neighbourhoods.
Disability Hate Crime is defined as – ‘Any incident or criminal offence which is perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability or perceived disability.”
“From bullying at school, harassment and name calling on the street, to abuse and exploitation in their own homes, there is a significant amount of disabled people affected by disability hate crime and some for whom it is an almost daily occurrence and happening so often that they do not even think to report it to the police. In a caring society it is unacceptable that this abuse is allowed to continue."
“In the Neighbourhood Watch network we have a movement of people who care about the safety of their communities and who, by acting together, can have a significant impact on reducing crime in their neighbourhoods. It is right and timely that this caring is extended to the reducing the victimisation and public abuse of disabled people.”
NHWN’s Strategic Partnerships Director Jayne Pascoe
The DHCN works with other disabled peoples organisations, charities, academic establishments and a range of official and non-official bodies including Police and CPS representatives to achieve positive action and outcomes for disabled people.
We’re prepared some resources to give NW supporters more information on this issue. Read those resources here