Disability Hate Crime

Crime based on hostility towards someone's disability is serious because it undermines people's sense of safety and security in their communities.
These crimes are based on ignorance and discrimination and have no place in an open and democratic society.

Equality before the law lies at the core of the public prosecution service, and that means always being willing to prosecute disability hate crime where the circumstances of the case show there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest.

Unfortunately, a large number of crimes against people with disabilities are still not reported. The CPS wants to increase prosecutions for hate crime, and we rely on people coming forward as victims and witnesses.

Speaking out about abuse can be daunting. But we offer support to victims and witnesses through Witness Care Officers, whose job is to ensure that people can give their best evidence in court. This might mean helping with arranging things like transport or child care, or asking prosecutors to apply for special measures in court which allow vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to give evidence from behind a screen or via TV link, for example.

We are determined to get justice in every case we prosecute and, where we have sufficient evidence that a crime was based on hostility towards disability, we will say in court that this is an aggravating factor. This could lead to an increased sentence for the defendant.

Please report any crime you experience to the police.

Find out more about help and support for victims and witnesses