Waveney MP Peter Aldous today welcomed new disability hate crime guides launched to help raise awareness of disability-related harassment and hate crime and how to report it.

The guides have been drawn up as part of the joint Let’s Stop Disability Hate Crime project between the Office for Disability Issues and Disability Rights UK.

The project has produced three guides:

• A guide for disabled people on what is a disability hate crime, why it should be reported, and how to report it


• A guide for non-disabled people on what is a disability hate crime, why it should be reported and how to report it


• A guide that can be used by disabled people’s organisations who would like to set up third party reporting site

In drafting the guidance Disability Rights UK listened to a wide range of disabled people and their organisations. This information formed the backbone of the guidance which was also drafted with assistance from the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Aldous said:
“I welcome these new guidelines which I hope will make a real difference to the awareness of disability hate crime and encouraging more people to report it. The Government is keen to build on its current disability strategy and I would encourage any individual or organisation who have ideas or experience in dealing with hate crime or negative attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people to write to me outlining them.”