Securing justice for disabled people in Derbyshire

27/02/2007

The Crown Prosecution Service has today launched its policy on prosecuting disability hate crime.

In drawing up the policy, the CPS invited representatives of disability organisations, including the Diability Rights Commission, to join a steering group to offer their expertise and views, and also consulted with disabled people.

Brian Gunn, Chief Crown Prosecutor at Derbyshire CPS said "Safety and security and the right to live free from fear and harassment are fundamental human rights.  Disability hate crime represents an attack on an individual's personal safety and sense of security in the community, and as such we take it extremely seriously.

"Courts can now pass a higher sentence when we prosecute a case as a disability hate crime.  If a disabled person has been a victim of crime and that crime has been aggravated by hostility towards their disability, then our prosecutors will work with the police to find evidence of this.  If we do, we shall present that evidence in court.

"We need to recognise that when we are dealing with disability hate crime we are often working with victims who come from communities who have very little or no confidence that their case will be dealt with seriously.

"I hope that the launch of this policy, and more importantly our subsequent actions to implement it, will reassure disabled people that if they are victims of hate crime, we will do everything possible to ensure they have equal access to justice."

Please click on the link below to view the new policy.  Copies in easy read format can be accessed via our website www.cps.gov.uk

Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Disability Hate Crime