We have a robust legislative framework to respond to hate crimes which target disability. We expect the police to fully investigate these appalling offences and work with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.<\/p>
The Government is pleased to see the overall reduction in police-recorded hate crime in the year ending March 2023, including a 1% reduction in disability hate crime compared with the previous year. However, any instance is one too many and we remain absolutely committed to ensuring these appalling offences are stamped out.<\/p>
We do not have a specific category of \u201cappearance-related abuse\u201d in the current legal framework, however criminal offences can be prosecuted as hate crimes when immediately, before, during or after the offence was committed the offender demonstrated hostility towards the victim based upon the victim\u2019s actual or perceived disability, or where the offence was motivated by such hostility.<\/p>
Our absolute priority is to get more police onto our streets, cut crime, protect the public and bring more criminals to justice. We are supporting the police by providing them with the resources they need. We delivered our commitment to recruit an additional 20,000 officers by March 2023 and there are now over 149,000 officers in England and Wales, which is higher than the previous peak in March 2010 before the Police Uplift Programme.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4888", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Sharpe of Epsom"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-20T12:35:42.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hate Crime: Disability"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to promoting awareness of the grounds for reporting appearance-related abuse or harassment as a disability-related hate crime, including on public transport.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/347", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Merron"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Merron"} ], "uin" : "HL3074"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1657431", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1657431/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Disability Action Plan Consultation asks for feedback on a number of specific proposals, as well as people's views on the plan as a whole and what alternative actions the Government might consider taking forward. We look forward to reviewing the results of this consultation, which will inform the final Disability Action Plan.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4369", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Pursglove"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Corby"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Tom Pursglove"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-09-07T14:54:15.637Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hate Crime: Disability"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including policies to help tackle disability-motivated hate crime in the Disability Action Plan 2023 to 2024.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4676", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Marsha De Cordova"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Marsha De Cordova"} ], "uin" : "197001"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1588182", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1588182/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Hate crime is a scourge on communities across the country. It does not reflect the values of modern Britain.<\/p>
All forms of hate crime, including disability hate crime, are completely unacceptable. We expect the police to fully investigate these hateful attacks and make sure the cowards who commit them feel the full force of the law.<\/p>
Our absolute priority is to get more police onto our streets, cut crime, protect the public and bring more criminals to justice. We are supporting the police by providing them with the resources they need, including recruiting 20,000 extra police officers.<\/p>
<\/p>
To tackle online hate crime, including disability hate crime, we fund a National Online Hate Crime Hub, which is a central police capability designed to support forces in dealing with online hate crime. The hub includes a public reporting portal and provides expert advice to forces to support them in investigating these offences.<\/p>
The Home Office collects and publishes data on the proportion of disability hate crime offences which resulted in a charge or summons for selected offence groups in an annual statistical bulletin on hate crime. Data for 2021/22 can be found in Figure 2.8 of the publication, available here: Hate crime, England and Wales, 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p> Data for previous years can be found in the respective annual publications.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derbyshire Dales"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Miss Sarah Dines"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "150554"}
, {"_value" : "150570"}
, {"_value" : "150571"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-01T16:55:54.653Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hate Crime: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to help prevent hate crime against disabled people.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4491", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham, Deptford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vicky Foxcroft"}
], "uin" : "150553"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1588185", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1588185/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Hate crime is a scourge on communities across the country. It does not reflect the values of modern Britain.<\/p> All forms of hate crime, including disability hate crime, are completely unacceptable. We expect the police to fully investigate these hateful attacks and make sure the cowards who commit them feel the full force of the law.<\/p> Our absolute priority is to get more police onto our streets, cut crime, protect the public and bring more criminals to justice. We are supporting the police by providing them with the resources they need, including recruiting 20,000 extra police officers.<\/p> <\/p> To tackle online hate crime, including disability hate crime, we fund a National Online Hate Crime Hub, which is a central police capability designed to support forces in dealing with online hate crime. The hub includes a public reporting portal and provides expert advice to forces to support them in investigating these offences.<\/p> The Home Office collects and publishes data on the proportion of disability hate crime offences which resulted in a charge or summons for selected offence groups in an annual statistical bulletin on hate crime. Data for 2021/22 can be found in Figure 2.8 of the publication, available here: Hate crime, England and Wales, 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a>.<\/p> Data for previous years can be found in the respective annual publications.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4816", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Derbyshire Dales"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Miss Sarah Dines"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "150553"}
, {"_value" : "150570"}
, {"_value" : "150571"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-01T16:55:54.607Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Hate Crime: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to help encourage individuals to report hate crime against disabled people.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4491", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham, Deptford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vicky Foxcroft"}
], "uin" : "150554"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1588240", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1588240/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Hate crime is a scourge on communities across the country. It does not reflect the values of modern Britain.<\/p> All forms of hate crime, including disability hate crime, are completely unacceptable. We expect the police to fully investigate these hateful attacks and make sure the cowards who commit them feel the full force of the law.<\/p> Our absolute priority is to get more police onto our streets, cut crime, protect the public and bring more criminals to justice. We are supporting the police by providing them with the resources they need, including recruiting 20,000 extra police officers.<\/p> <\/p> To tackle online hate crime, including disability hate crime, we fund a National Online Hate Crime Hub, which is a central police capability designed to support forces in dealing with online hate crime. The hub includes a public reporting portal and provides expert advice to forces to support them in investigating these offences.<\/p>