Scottish Disability Equality Forum are delighted that Police Scotland are raising awareness of hate crime, with the particular focus on disability hate crime this week. We are working with Reporting Centres across Scotland to encourage groups in their own communities to become Third Party Hate Crime Reporting Centres, and there are currently around 300 across Scotland, providing support to victims to report a hate crime.

Disability Hate Crime is on the increase, with statistics from the Crown Office showing a 12% increase during 2013-2014, however reported incidents fall far short of reality. Many people who have been subject to such incidents are reluctant to report them as they fear repercussions. Third party hate crime reporting enables victims to report such incidents without fear of reprisal.

Susan Grasekamp, Chief Executive Officer states “Many of our members report anecdotally of hate crimes they have been subjected to, but very often, it is seen as a ‘part of life’. This has to change, as no one has the right to inflict injury or insult on account of their race, gender, religion, sex, orientation, age or disability.”

Scottish Disability Equality Forum is hopeful that these next four weeks will create awareness in the general population of what a hate crime is and what we can do to report it – not just the victim, but witnesses too. It’s a responsibility we all have to one another as citizens, and these Reporting Centres provide a vital facility for those who might otherwise let a crime go unreported.

For further information go to Police Scotland website - http://www.scotland.police.uk/whats-happening/news/2015/august/hate-crime-campaign-launched-by-leading-sports-stars