Hate crimes against disabled people in South Yorkshire have risen significantly in the last few years and campaigners claim that this figure may still be lower than the actual incidence due to disabled people’s reluctance to report incicents ,feeling that their claims may not be taken seriously and because they are ‘used to’ such abuse.
Now Then magazine has published an article written by Philippa Willitts following their Freedom of Information request to South Yorkshire Police showing that disability hate crime figures rose to 441 in 2021, a 77% increase since 2018.
“Whilst working with our members and communities across Sheffield, we often find that the people who use Safe Places are used to the public discriminating against them and singling them out as a result of their disability or difficulties,” said Chloe Wilks, co-ordinator for the Safe Places project run by Sheffield City Council and Heeley City Farm with the aim of supporting vulnerable people to feel safe when they are out and about in Sheffield.
If someone needs help then they can go to a pre-approved Safe Place, which are all highlighted on the Safe Places website.
“The bottom line is hate crime is massively under-reported within the disabled community because they are so used to it. People just do not report as a result of nothing changing.”
But Chloe encourages people to report hate crime if they have been victimised, as it “is a paramount way of ensuring the police and authorities know what is happening around the city. Without people reporting hate crime the police simply can’t target the right areas and help where is most needed.”
Kathryn Littlewood from Sheffield Voices at Disability Sheffield adds in the article: “At this time there is no official disability reporting centre in Sheffield. However, if someone has a learning disability or autism, they can reach out to Sheffield Voices and we will try our best to support people to report the crime.”
Sheffield City Council provides information about reporting hate crime here.
If you think that you been a victim of hate crime you can contact the police by telephoning 101. If there is an immediate threat to life or the crime is ongoing call 999.
You can also report hate crime online at Stop Hate UK, a leading national organisations working to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity.
South Yorkshire Police say: “With regards to disability hate crime, it is both saddening and concerning there are still people in society who are committing hate crimes of this type. We want to reassure people that all forms of hate crime – not just those against people with a disability – have no place here in South Yorkshire, and any complaint made to us will be taken extremely seriously and treated with the utmost respect.”
You can read Now Then’s full article here.
