Conference Focuses On People With Learning Difficulties

The West Midlands Regional Learning Disability Board is holding a conference next week in Worcester to explore why those with learning disabilities do not report hate crime when they experience it and what can be done to address this.

The Learning Disability Hate Crime Conference, which is open to both those with learning difficulties and those working with or caring for those with learning difficulties, will take place on Monday 15 March at Worcester Rugby Club (Sixways) in Warriors Way, Worcester. The event is invitation only and around 100 people are expected to attend.

The conference has been organised by members of the Worcestershire branch of the West Midlands Regional Learning Disability Board, which includes West Mercia Police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Department of Health, Mencap, SpeakEasy N.O.W. and the Association of Foster Carers.

Research has shown that people with learning disabilities suffer discrimination and are often victims of hate crime, while Mencap's Living in Fear report from 1999 found that nine out of ten people with a learning disability have been bullied.

There is also a serious problem of under reporting of hate crime against people with learning disabilities.

The conference, which will be opened by Assistant Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, will include discussion about what hate crime actually is, a series of related workshops as well as a performance by the drama group ‘About Face'.

Police will also launch their True Vision Disability Reporting pack, which encourages victims of disability hate crime to report it and provides details on the support available to victims. This pack is available in an ‘easy read' format (with larger print, simpler text and more illustrations) aimed to assist those with learning difficulties or mental health issues.

People with disabilities have been invited to attend the day along with family carers, professionals working in the criminal justice system, social care, education or health, and also representatives from the Learning Disability Partnership Boards within the West Midlands Region.

Detective Inspector Neil Austin from West Mercia Police's Public Protection Unit said: "We understand the far-reaching effects that hate crime of any nature can have on the victim and we treat all reported incidents very seriously.

"However we need to be made aware of any incidents if we are to tackle hate crime effectively, yet we know that many such incidents go unreported, particularly those involving people with learning disabilities.

"The focus of this conference is therefore to encourage those with learning disabilities or involved in caring for or working with this group to report hate crime incidents, and also to reassure them that police and partner agencies will investigate and take action."

Colin Chapman, Chief Crown Prosecutor and Chair of Worcestershire's Learning Disability Hate Crime Group, who is chairing the conference, said: "The role in our society of people with learning disabilities is being undermined by those who demonstrate, or are motivated by, hostility towards them. The police, CPS and voluntary agencies will do all they can to ensure that offenders are brought to justice, but we must ensure that victims know when and how to report incidents so that we can take action.

"The aim of this conference is to make victims, and their carers, supporters and families, feel more confident that they can, and should, report any incident, no matter how small. This is how we will get the message across that such behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

Copies of True Vision Disability Reporting packs are also available from police stations across the West Mercia force area.