By Charlotte Webster-
The number of prosecutions related to disability hate crime offences in the UK has experienced a significant decline, despite the clear acknowledgment by both the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police authorities that the situation demanded improvement.
These worrying figures highlights a grave issue that continues to erode the principles of justice and inclusivity, with implications for society’s most vulnerable individuals.
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Historically, the UK has committed to combating hate crimes, especially those directed towards people with disabilities. However, the latest data reveals that despite promises to enhance the situation, prosecutions are dwindling.
Both Lionel Idan, CPS Hate Crime Lead, and Mark Hamilton, Hate Crime Lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), had expressed dissatisfaction with the past performance of authorities in handling disability hate crimes, emphasizing the necessity for amelioration.
Home Office statistics on hate crime across England and Wales in 2022-23 indicate a concerning trend.
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Notably, the number of recorded disability hate crimes slightly decreased from 13,905 in 2021-22 to 13,777 in 2022-23, marking the first recorded decline since the data series began in 2011-12. More concerning, however, is the meager percentage of disability hate crime cases that led to charges or summons compared to non-hate crime cases.
For instance, only one percent of disability hate crime cases categorized under “violence against the person” resulted in a charge or summons, in stark contrast to the five percent of non-hate crime cases.
Similarly, public order offences registered only a two percent charge or summons rate for disability hate crimes, compared to six percent for non-hate crime cases and 14 percent for sexual orientation hate crimes.
The CPS data reveals a 10 percent decline in prosecutions related to disability hate crimes, dropping from 345 in the year to 2022-23 to a mere 311, with successful convictions decreasing from 273 to 245, also a 10 percent fall.
This plunge can be attributed to the insufficient number of cases forwarded to CPS by the police, with forces forwarding only 269 disability hate crime cases last year, a marginal increase from the 243 cases in 2021-22.
This decline is even more apparent when comparing the current figures to those from just a few years ago.
In 2016-17, CPS completed 1,009 prosecutions for disability hate crimes, over three times the number from last year when only 311 prosecutions occurred.
The numbers have been steadily decreasing in recent years, with the current rate translating to just 2.26 percent of total disability hate crimes recorded by the police in 2022-23.
These deeply concerning figures have far-reaching implications, and they underline a pressing need for action. It is a stark reminder of the systemic barriers and prejudices faced by victims of disability hate crimes and the urgent need for comprehensive reform.
Tracy Lazard, the CEO of Inclusion London,(pictured) rightfully characterizes the situation as “shocking but not surprising.” She emphasizes the pervasive discrimination within the police and criminal justice systems, demanding comprehensive reforms to dismantle these barriers and address disablism effectively.
These changes should include mandatory disability equality training for police forces and the CPS, initiatives like Disability Hate Crime Matters to enhance the recording of disability hate crimes, and deeper engagement with disabled people’s organizations.
Dr. David Wilkin, a disabled activist and researcher, highlights the pressing need to investigate the causes of this issue, as the rate of cases referred to CPS by police remains alarmingly low.
These statistics not only raise concerns about the state of disability hate crime prosecutions in the UK but also challenge the nation’s commitment to justice and inclusivity.
It is imperative that steps are taken to address the root causes of this decline, improve the prosecution rates, and provide better support to the victims of disability hate crimes.
Without immediate and comprehensive action, the rights and safety of some of the most vulnerable members of society will remain in jeopardy.
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