Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing

Kate Green MP (Labour, Stretford and Urmston) is the shadow minister for women and equalities

Hardest-Hit There hasn’t been much to celebrate about the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill, which received its third reading in the Commons this week.

But I was both delighted and surprised when, in the course of Tuesday’s debate, Ken Clarke responded to my amendment to recognise the seriousness of disability hate crime by agreeing to increase the minimum tariff for murder where the victim’s disability has been a motivating or aggravating factor.

I’m very grateful to a number of organisations and individuals who first brought the issue to my attention.

Writer and journalist Katharine Quarmby, representatives of the Disability Hate Crime Network and RADAR, and, most importantly, Christine Oliver, sister of Keith Philpott, a learning disabled victim who was tortured and murdered by a group of people whom he’d got to know socially, all spent time taking me through the compelling need for a change in the law.

My amendment (which had support from MPs right across the House) would have aligned the tariff in cases where disability is an issue with the treatment of race, religion and sexuality. On Tuesday, Clarke promised the government would bring forward its own amendment when the bill reaches the House of Lords.

This is very welcome news, and I look forward to seeing the Lord Chancellor’s proposal.

There’s an opportunity for the government to be much bolder than I was able to be with my amendment. Disability hate crime covers a much wider spectrum of offences than simply murder, so the government must take the opportunity to develop a much fuller strategic response to this shameful – and all too often hidden – issue.

Last month the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published “Hidden in plain sight”, a report of its inquiry into disability-related harassment. That report reveals that nearly 2 million disabled people were victims of crime in 2009/10.

Although it’s not known how many were victims of harassment, we do know disabled people are more likely to be victims of crime than the non-disabled, and there’s evidence that they’re also more at risk of experiencing anti-social behaviour.

Cases that come to court, especially murder cases, are only the tip of a very sizeable iceberg. The underlying institutional and societal problems revealed by the report show a pattern of failure to address discrimination against disabled people. There is currently no holistic approach to dealing with attacks and harassment of disabled people. Data is patchy, professionals’ responses vary, and awareness is often low.

The EHRC therefore makes a number of suggestions, both to improve practice, and to monitor much more accurately the extent of harassment of disabled people.

Its proposals would improve access to the criminal justice system for disabled people and their families. Professional behaviours and attitudes that mean the issue goes unrecognised, or that discourage victims from reporting (often they feel they will not be believed), systemic barriers to sharing information, a lack of understanding of the drivers of perpetrators’ behaviour: All of this needs to change.

Amending the sentencing provisions in relation to murder would be important, but it’s only the first step in ensuring people never have to suffer abuse or harassment because of their disability.

There is a wider context however; the Conservative-led reforms to our welfare system which demonise those unable to work, and broader underlying attitudes to disabled people, which, as research from the Glasgow Media Group has very recently shown, have become increasingly hostile.

Disabled people have gone from being seen as “deserving” to “undeserving”, too often portrayed as workshy scroungers, not least by Coalition Ministers keen to “talk tough on welfare” and demonise those in receipt of social security benefits.

The issue shouldn’t be about which disabled people are deserving, but of how we can successfully provide autonomy, equality and rights. Disabled people should not be less protected than those without disabilities. That means there’s an obligation on society to address the structural disadvantage that they face at every level.

The real importance of Clarke’s concession will therefore be if it marks a sea-change in wider institutional attitudes and behaviours, if it kick starts government action to reverse damaging legislation and begin to better support and protect disabled people, and if that in turns helps transform public attitudes too.

Disabled people should insist they are at the heart of driving such change, and as shadow minister for women and equalities I will make sure the Labour Party is behind them every step of the way.

See also:

• The missing millions in the legal aid cuts – Alex Hern, November 2nd 2011

• Compensation changes will leave Paralympic heroes without vital support – Jonny Mulligan, September 9th 2011

• NHS report urges government to stop legal aid cuts – Jonny Mulligan, July 12th 2011

• Fat cats will continue to milk the legal aid budget – while the vulnerable suffer – Jonny Mulligan, June 22nd 2011

• Two women a week die from domestic violence; legal aid cuts will see more – Jonny Mulligan, June 16th 2011

http://twitter.com/johnedginton/status/133509683863502848 John Edginton

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/133509712464461824 #pressreform

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/ladyupminster/status/133510168666308608 LJH

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/133510369061777408 Sue Marsh

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/cCJbzMx2 <<Brilliant @KateGreenMP
http://twitter.com/wellfairsystem/status/133510457058267137 Well Fair System?

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/cCJbzMx2 <<Brilliant @KateGreenMP
http://twitter.com/imogen__may/status/133510459679707136 Imogen May

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/cCJbzMx2 <<Brilliant @KateGreenMP
http://twitter.com/heliotropics/status/133510764479778816 Raj P

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/thefworduk/status/133513080779980800 The F-Word

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/mHYAJQvI
http://twitter.com/incurablehippie/status/133513085112688640 Philippa

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/8BFSYXPG
http://twitter.com/rbhuhi/status/133513108282032130 Rajinder Bhuhi

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/mainlyspoons/status/133513643039002624 Sara Sara

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/mHYAJQvI
http://twitter.com/margojmilne/status/133513648831332352 Margo Milne

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/8BFSYXPG
http://twitter.com/samanthaj494/status/133513659275165697 Samantha Johnston

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/disabilitydiva/status/133514638968102912 Mandy

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/cCJbzMx2 <<Brilliant @KateGreenMP
http://twitter.com/june4th/status/133514835748061184 Noxi

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/UkpD4LAF
http://twitter.com/bigpawedbear/status/133516116378136576 big pawed bear

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/8BFSYXPG
http://twitter.com/politicalplanet/status/133516215015579648 Political Planet

Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing: Shadow equalities minister Kate Gr… http://t.co/hRQ2mVER
Rob the crip

The sad fact is kicking the shit out of people is far better then calling them work shy scroungers words New labour loved to use, also stopping benefits of people in a wheelchair because a wheelchair is the same as legs try it. I think getting your own party in line before moaning about the Tories.
hindle-a

Dear Kate Green,in that case would you endeavour to have a word with your colleagues-the “Something for something” trope is clearly designed to further add to the hostility for political gain.
http://lisybabe.blogspot.com Lisa

Actually I would say that the *minimum* they could do is to stop *encouraging* disablist hate crime with the scrounger rhetoric and press releases containing massaged statistics.

I would absolutely love to see perpetrators of disablist hate treated appropriately. But I would rank this amendment as second from minimum; with ceasing to promote at minimum.
http://nataliemeadows.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/fighting-disability-hate-crime-is-the-minimum-the-government-should-be-doing-left-foot-forward/ Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing | Left Foot Forward « Natalie Meadows' Blog

[...] Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing | Left Foot Forward. Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. [...]
http://twitter.com/postpolionews/status/133564386081112064 Chris Salter

Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/rc1Os7ql #ppnews
http://twitter.com/jaydyok/status/133565086504726528 JayDyok

'The issue shouldn’t be which disabled people are deserving, but of how we can provide autonomy, equality and rights'. http://t.co/yzKOeejN
http://twitter.com/creativecrip/status/133576319379308546 TheCreativeCrip

Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/rc1Os7ql #ppnews
http://twitter.com/twowolves/status/133581123619000321 2wolves

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/cCJbzMx2 <<Brilliant @KateGreenMP
http://twitter.com/yvonnehlee/status/133589483168866304 Yvonne Lee

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/meenalacey/status/133599342299848704 Meena Lacey

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/thirdforcecare/status/133599781468643328 ThirdForce Learning

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/AqP6UK8o
http://twitter.com/jintyg51/status/133612551278837760 Janet Graham

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/cCJbzMx2 <<Brilliant @KateGreenMP
http://twitter.com/egloballearning/status/133618960838033408 Elaine Newman

Fighting disability #hatecrime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/ezdtEoir #disabilities #diversity #equality #UK
Rob the crip

Blair work shy, Milibands I know a man who was fit to work asked what was wrong with him he stated I do not know but he looked fit.

Ah well just like Labour to attack people when your as bad as them
Rob the crip

I was just looking at a report Ms Green did on progress in which she states we did not go far enough or fast enough on welfare, then she spouts the Blair and Brown line on Immigration, then spouts we made a mistake.Then she says the only way out of poverty is work, but of course it depends on what the job are, and if a disabled person can do them, or are you talking about the rubbish jobs found for me , sitting in a room with a computer which was not connected up, for six weeks until I left from boredom, they actually told me to thank my lucky stars the company was willing to pay me a wage, for doing nothing. I then moved to another Job in which I had to say welcome to this shop, when I did not smile, I was told if I could not smile I was no good to the company, every penny counts slap slap on the back pocket.

This MP is another of the many career Politicians that are rife within all parties these days.

They pollute politics.
http://twitter.com/liza_harding/status/133700119915790337 Liza Harding

Fighting disability hate crime is the *minimum* the government should be doing, writes @KateGreenMP: http://t.co/eWBrlo4M
http://twitter.com/richardbrennan/status/133948870639095808 richardbrennan

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE
http://twitter.com/dlfuk/status/133949492734066688 Disabled Living Fdn

Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing: http://t.co/bkFTX51f via @KateGreenMP & @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/themingford/status/133949562921566208 Thomas Hemingford

Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing: http://t.co/bkFTX51f via @KateGreenMP & @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/allyfogg/status/133949662104268801 Ally Fogg

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE
http://twitter.com/cllrsuzanne/status/133949729028583424 Suzanne Richards

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE
http://twitter.com/jailhouselawyer/status/133952538000105473 John Hirst

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE
http://twitter.com/papool/status/133965597817061376 Katy Etherington

RT @dlfuk: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing: http://t.co/W6NAtRmf via @KateGreenMP &…
http://twitter.com/marthatrust/status/133966378762895360 Martha Trust

RT @leftfootfwd: Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing http://t.co/Vbfsk9gy
http://www.socialsecurity-disability.org SSDAdvocate

The disability benefits that people who are unable to work receive are essential to not only their well-being, but their family depends on these payments as well. It is unfortunate that many of those people with disabling conditions have to deal with the stigma that they are just lazy and should get out there and work for a living. If you have a disabling condition and would like to be connected with a specialized social security attorney in your area, check out Social Security Disability Help today.
http://twitter.com/mrsblogs/status/134086775181287424 Mrs Blogs

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE
http://twitter.com/ebonydawnmarsh/status/134087459385507840 Ebony Dawn Marsh

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE
http://twitter.com/diversityisgood/status/134212345458200576 kendall wigoda

Fighting disability hate crime is the minimum the government should be doing | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/jzrijIUf
http://twitter.com/dlandoncole/status/134373510347886592 David Landon Cole

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE
http://twitter.com/f_k_campbell/status/134718456644898816 Fiona AK Campbell

(United Kingdom) http://t.co/EOMnniAl
http://twitter.com/fuelouryouth/status/135074781681827840 FuelOurYouth

Pls read my article for @leftfootfwd:Fighting disability hate crime is min the govt should be doing' http://t.co/TP07GtRE