Disability hate crime hits record high in West Yorkshire

Disability charity Leonard Cheshire has called for tougher action on the “abhorrent” crime, as only around 2 per cent of disability hate incidents result in a charge or summons nationally.

Home Office data shows ​875 disability hate crimes were recorded by West Yorkshire Police in 2019-20. That was up by 5 per cent compared to the previous year, when 830 incidents were reported, and the highest figure since comparable records began in 2011-12. Reports can include assault, harassment and criminal damage against someone with a physical or learning disability, or mental health problem.

Terry McCorry, a disability hate crime advocate for Leonard Cheshire, said: “This intolerable crime can seriously impact the lives of disabled people who are already marginalised by society. Social isolation can be a huge issue for disabled people and disability hate crime only serves to make people feel more reluctant to get out and about.”

In West Yorkshire, 8,363 hate crimes of any type were recorded in the year to March – up 2 per cent on 2018-19. Disability-related incidents accounted for 10 per cent, while the majority (73 per cent) were racially motivated.

The latest statistics come amid National Hate Crime Awareness Week, a national initiative aimed at increasing recognition of the crime.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, hate crime lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Everyone has the right to live their lives without fear of being attacked, either physically or verbally. Police take all reports of threats and abuse seriously and we will work to bring perpetrators to justice.”