Disability hate crime convictions drop, says CPS – BBC News

Posted October 23rd, 2014 in crime, disabled persons, harassment, hate crime, news, prosecutions, reports by sally

‘Prosecutors have pledged to do more to tackle disability hate crime after a drop in the number of convictions.’

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BBC News, 23rd October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Disability hate crime: Attacks on people with disabilities ‘must be taken more seriously’ – The Independent

‘The former director of public prosecutions has said attacks on disabled people are not being recognised as hate crime, letting criminals off with lighter sentences.’

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The Independent, 21st September 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hate crime: should the current offences be extended? – Law Commission

In a report published today the Law Commission recommends reforms to ensure that the criminal justice system is able to make a stronger and more coherent response to hate crime.

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Law Commission, 28th May 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Hate crime: Report finds significant progress in reducing hate crime – Home Office

‘The Hate Crime Action Plan documents the government’s work to tackle hate crime.
A report on the progress made in the past 2 years has been published. Achievements include: better education of secondary school pupils, improved recording by police and work with major internet service providers in the UK and USA to reduce the harm caused by hate material on the internet. The report also discusses the spike in anti-Muslim sentiment following the murder of Lee Rigby.’

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Home Office, 7th May 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Government response and progress update to Equality and Human Rights Commission report ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ – Home Office

“In July 2012, the government published its response to the EHRC recommendations from its inquiry into disability related harassment. Our response set out our commitment to tackle disability related harassment and how we planned to take forward work to address the issues identified, including through ‘Challenge it, Report it, Stop it’, the government’s plan to tackle hate crime. This update provides an overview of the government’s specific achievements to address hate crime and disability-related harassment to date. Over the last year we have made significant progress in a number of areas to identify gaps and improve our response to disability equality, change negative attitudes and provide support for disabled people and disabled people’s organisations.”

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Home Office, 14th November 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Most gay hate crimes go unreported, Stonewall survey finds – The Independent

“More than three-quarters of gay, bisexual and lesbian victims of hate crime did not report it to the police, a survey found.”

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The Independent, 15th October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hate Crime: The Case for Extending the Existing Offences – Law Commission

“This project came to the Law Commission by a reference from the Ministry of Justice, following the Government’s publication of its three-year hate crime action plan in 2012.”

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Law Commission, 27th June 2013

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

‘Challenge it, report it, stop it’ – a plan to tackle hate crime – Home Office

“A government plan to tackle hate crime is launched today with the key message to ‘challenge it, report it, stop it’.”

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Home Office, 10th April 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/home-office

Punks and goths can now be hate crime victims – The Independent

Posted April 4th, 2013 in crime, harassment, hate crime, news, police, young persons by sally

“Greater Manchester Police is the first force to treat offences against subculture groups as hate crimes.”

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The Independent, 3rd April 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Disability hate crime victims being let down, official report says – The Guardian

Posted March 21st, 2013 in crime, disabled persons, hate crime, news, reports, victims by sally

“Victims of disability hate crime are being let down by the criminal justice system and attacks are not being properly recorded, according to a report by three official inspectorates.”

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The Guardian, 21st March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hate crime – should the aggravated and stirring up hatred offences be extended? – Law Commission

“The Commission has been asked by Government to consider whether two existing groups of offences dealing with hate crime should be extended.”

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Law Commission, 14th December 2012

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Hate-crime cases failing in court, says CPS – The Independent

Posted October 18th, 2012 in crime, harassment, hate crime, news, prosecutions, reports, statistics, victims by sally

“Increasing numbers of hate-crime prosecutions are collapsing because victims are backing out or their stories unravel in court, a new report from the Crown Prosecution Service reveals today.”

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The Independent, 18th October 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Disability hate crime is at its highest level since records began – The Guardian

“There were 1,942 recorded incidents of disability hate crime in England and Wales in 2011, an increase of more than 25% on the total for 2010 and the highest since this data was first recorded in April 2010.”

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The Guardian, 14th August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hate crimes against disabled people soar to a record level – The Independent

Posted June 19th, 2012 in crime, disabled persons, harassment, hate crime, news by sally

“‘Anti-scrounger’ rhetoric blamed for doubling of offences since 2008 financial crisis.”

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The Independent, 19th June 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

‘Challenge it, report it, stop it’ – a plan to tackle hate crime – Home Office

“A government plan to tackle hate crime is launched today with the key message to ‘challenge it, report it, stop it’. Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone unveiled the plan as she addressed a hate crime conference organised by the association of chief police officers (ACPO) in Birmingham.”

Full press release

Home Office, 14th March 2012

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Stronger CPS cases in hate crime lead to increase in guilty pleas – Crown Prosecution Service

“The CPS is prosecuting more hate crimes, more successfully and with more defendants pleading guilty than ever before.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 14th February 2012

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Guardian journalist wins right to ‘sensitive’ court papers related to Griffin conviction – OUT-LAW.com

“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) must disclose some papers it holds relating to the successful conviction of controversial right-wing politician Nick Griffin for a racial hate crime in the 1990s, an Information Rights Tribunal has ruled.”

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th February 2012

Source: www.out-law.com

Strategy to drive out transgender prejudice – Home Office

“Tougher sentences for hate crimes, support for transgender pupils in schools, and tailored recruitment advice for businesses are just some of the actions in the first transgender equality plan launched by the government today.”

Full press release

Home Office, 8th December 2011

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Police are failing people with learning disabilities, says study – The Guardian

“People with learning disabilities continue to be failed by police forces, with many neither properly investigating disability hate crimes or treating victims as credible witnesses, according to a report by Mencap.”

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The Guardian, 20th June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DPP says prosecuting disability hate crime is “the next frontier” for the Criminal Justice System – Crown Prosecution Service

“Prosecutors are ‘still in the foothills’ when it comes to prosecuting disability hate crime, the DPP Keir Starmer QC said today (Wednesday ) in a speech to Sussex Law School’s ‘Issues in Criminal Justice’ series at the University of Sussex.”

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Crown Prosecution Service, 2nd March 2011

Source: www.cps.gov.uk