Cumbria Conference Focuses on Disability Hate Crime
23/07/2012
A conference in Carlisle aims to raise awareness of disability hate crime, to find out what can be done to stop it happening in the first place and to improve how it is dealt with when it does happen.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is working with Cumbria County Council, Disability Association Carlisle and Eden, People First and Victim Support to organise the event at Carlisle Race Course on Monday 23rd July. It brings together public sector organisations, disabled people and local voluntary agencies who support and provide services for disabled people.
Chris Long, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West, who will be opening the conference said:
"Many disabled people live with persistent abuse and harassment because of their disability, and this is borne out by recent surveys. We also know that these incidents are hugely underreported.
"Targeting and bullying people because they are disabled is totally unacceptable. Through this conference we want to identify the barriers that prevent disabled people from coming forward and reporting disability hate crime. It is very much about listening to the concerns of disabled people in order to improve their confidence that these crimes will be taken seriously, and to increase awareness of the support that is available to victims."
Speakers at the conference include Councillor James Airey from Cumbria County Council, Mark Tennant from Disability Association Carlisle and Eden and Alison Mutch, Hate Crime Coordinator, CPS North West and Superintendent Paul Giannasi from the Ministry of Justice. Delegates will be attending from housing associations, charities, the criminal justice service and disability organisations from across Cumbria.
Councillor James Airey, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Adult Social Care who will be speaking at the event said:
"Cumbria County Council are committed to supporting the county's more vulnerable people. This conference presents a fantastic opportunity to not only raise awareness of the prejudices that many disabled people may face but also starts the discussion as to what we can do address this problem head on. I am proud to support this event and look forward to contributing on Monday."
A number of workshop sessions during the conference will focus on disabled people's experiences, the barriers to reporting and will explore solutions to those barriers.
Speakers at the conference include Councillor James Airey from Cumbria County Council, Mark Tennant from Disability Association Carlisle and Eden and Alison Mutch, Hate Crime Coordinator, CPS North West and Superintendent Paul Giannasi from the Ministry of Justice. Delegates will be attending from housing associations, charities, the criminal justice service and disability organisations from across Cumbria.
Councillor James Airey, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Adult Social Care who will be speaking at the event said:
"Cumbria County Council are committed to supporting the county's more vulnerable people. This conference presents a fantastic opportunity to not only raise awareness of the prejudices that many disabled people may face but also starts the discussion as to what we can do address this problem head on. I am proud to support this event and look forward to contributing on Monday."
A number of workshop sessions during the conference will focus on disabled peoples experiences, the barriers to reporting and will explore solutions to those barriers.
