Bournemouth charity's bid to combat hate crime (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bournemouth charity's bid to combat hate crime

12:30pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

A BOURNEMOUTH-based charity is helping to shape the future of hate crime reporting across the country.

Access Dorset compiled its report, DPULOs Making a Difference: Disability Hate Crime, which has been published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and was officially launched by Esther McVey, the minister for disabled people.

The research brings together case studies from across from around the country about approaches taken by disabled people’s user-led organisations (DPULOs) in tackling hate crime.

Access Dorset is a partnership of 17 local disabled and older people’s organisations in the county, and its report is now being sent to every police force and crime commissioner in the country.

It can also be found in various formats on the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) website.

Jonathan Waddington-Jones, chief executive of Access Dorset, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to lead on this important work that affects so many disabled people, including many in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.”

The report has highlighted how important it is for police forces and councils to work in partnership with disabled people’s organisations to increase confidence in reporting incidences.

Earlier this year, a survey by Access Dorset highlighted that 40 per cent of disabled and older people in Dorset have experienced harassment or hate crime, but very few report it.

Recommendations include establishing independent reporting centres and regular briefings between councils, the police and user-led organisations to ensure disability hate crime is brought to attention.

For more information, go to Accessdorset.org.uk