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Disabled victims of hate crimes “still let down by justice system” (21 May 2015)

Date: 21/05/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Disabled victims of hate crimes “still let down by justice system”

A new report by the Criminal Justice Inspectorate has concluded that victims of disability hate crime are still being let down by the system – with police, prosecutors and probation services failing to bring about “much-needed change” in the past two years.

BBC News reports that the inspectorate’s follow-up review comes after a critical report in March 2013, which highlighted several tragic cases – including the case of 38-year-old Fiona Pilkington and her disabled 18-year-old daughter Francesca from Leicestershire, who had suffered years of abuse from youths near their home.

Ms Pilkington and her daughter died in 2007, after Ms Pilkington drove to a lay-by and set their car on fire because she was unable to cope with being repeatedly taunted by local youths outside her home.

Ms Pilkington had made more than 30 police reports about anti-social behaviour and had kept a log of incidents in which youths targeted their home and shouted abuse.
The inspectorate’s first report urged police, prosecutors and probation trusts to adopt and publish a “single, clear and uncomplicated” definition of abuse against disabled people, to ensure the crime was treated in the same way as other hate crimes – including hate crimes involving race, religion and sexual orientation.

The latest report was compiled by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), together with HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).

Chief inspector of HMCPSI, Kevin McGinty said:
“The report's conclusions show that – although the three criminal justice agencies have undertaken some initiatives to improve the way they deal with disability hate crime – the overall performance, acknowledged by all agencies, is still disappointing.
“The police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the probation service recognise that further work needs to be carried out to ensure disability hate crime victims are recognised – and given the appropriate level of support and service by the criminal justice system.”

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