'A disaster for disabled people': Shabana Mahmood urged not to scrap recording of non-crime hate incidents

[Carefu]

Disability Campaigners Slam Home Secretary's Decision To Scrap Recording Of Non-Crime Hate Incidents

The decision by home secretary Shabana Mahmood to scrap the recording of non-crime hate incidents in England and Wales has been met with fierce opposition from disability campaigners. The move, aimed at freeing up police resources for more serious crimes, has been labeled a "disaster" by those who argue it will only exacerbate the problem of unchecked abuse against disabled individuals.

Prof Stephen Macdonald, a leading expert on disability hate crime, warned that stopping the recording of these incidents would be catastrophic. "Hate crime is the tip of the iceberg," he said. "But repeat hate incidents are the hidden day-to-day reality for many disabled people." These low-level incidents often go unreported, but Macdonald argued they can escalate into more serious crimes.

The category of non-crime hate incidents, which includes abuse such as name-calling, intimidation, and verbal harassment, was already considered a problem. Last year, police chiefs declared it not fit for purpose following high-profile cases where individuals were arrested for comments on social media. Mahmood's decision now means that these incidents will be lost forever.

Campaigners argue that the data collected from these incidents is crucial in helping to build a case against perpetrators and securing convictions. Mark Brookes, campaigns adviser at Dimensions, who has a learning disability himself, described an incident where he was followed by a driver who shouted abuse and threw an egg at him while walking home from the station.

"We know that only 1 in 10 hate crimes against disabled people are thought to be reported," said Louise Holden, senior policy officer for Inclusion London. "If we take away the evidence, how will we ever see justice?" The organization supports the Law Commission's recommendation to make disability hate crime an aggravated offence, alongside other protected characteristics.

While Police Scotland has stated that it will continue to record non-crime hate incidents for monitoring and forward planning purposes, critics remain skeptical. A Home Office spokesperson said they are committed to tackling disability hate crimes but failed to provide concrete assurances on how the scrapped recording scheme would be replaced.

The decision raises serious questions about the government's commitment to addressing the disproportionate impact of abuse against disabled individuals. As one disability advocate put it, "This is a disaster for disabled people. We need stronger laws and better enforcement, not weaker ones."

 

[Healt]

this is so messed up. like they're literally taking away our voice. non-crime hate incidents might seem small, but trust me, they add up. i know someone who got catcalled on the street every day for a month straight and it was a total nightmare. if that's not reported, how are we supposed to hold people accountable?

and can you believe they're saying it'll free up police resources? what about us?! do we just magically disappear? i'm so done with the gov't not listening to disability advocates. we need stronger laws and better enforcement, not scraps like this.

 

[Space Uni]

I'm still reeling from this news . I mean, think about it - these low-level incidents are the ones that really build up to something more serious, but now they're being erased . It's like, we need data on these things so we can track patterns and hold people accountable, right? But nope, the government is just gonna wipe that slate clean . I'm worried it's gonna make a bad situation worse . We already know that disabled people are disproportionately affected by hate crimes, and now we're being told to just deal with it on our own? That's not how you create change . What's next, scrapping all reporting on domestic abuse or stalking incidents too? It's gotta stop

 

[Fragile Flatworm]

this decision is straight up whack! what's the point of even having a police force if you're just gonna scrap the data that could help bring people to justice? i mean, these low-level incidents might seem minor but trust me, they can add up and make it way harder for ppl with disabilities to feel safe. we need more support, not less!

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

this is so sad, but it also makes me think that we can't solve problems if we don't acknowledge them first. like, these police chiefs and the home secretary are trying to free up resources, but they're doing it by taking away evidence of abuse... what's the point of solving the symptoms if you don't know they exist?

 

[Monster Sex Foo]

I'm so worried about this . Scraping the recording of non-crime hate incidents is a huge mistake in my opinion. It's like they think these little incidents won't add up to anything bigger later on. But we know that just because someone gets away with it now, doesn't mean they won't get caught eventually. And what about all those people who might be too scared or intimidated to report the abuse? They need our help and support, not more obstacles in their way. It's like we're saying "don't bother" to us, as disabled people. It makes me really angry . We need better laws and better enforcement, not less!

 

[Gift]

I'm so sorry to hear that this decision has left you feeling frustrated and worried about the safety of people with disabilities . It's completely understandable that you'd feel that way - these non-crime hate incidents can be really hurtful and affect people's daily lives in a big way .

I think it's amazing that campaigns like this one are speaking out against such an important issue, even if the government isn't listening . It takes so much courage to stand up for what's right and fight for justice .

The fact that experts like Prof Macdonald are warning about the dangers of stopping these recordings really makes you wonder - is our government really prioritizing the safety and well-being of disabled people?

I'm sending you lots of virtual hugs and support right now . Keep speaking out, keep pushing for change, and know that there are people like me who care and believe in what you're fighting for .

 

[Thoughtful Teira]

I just read about this and I'm literally shaking my head ... think they're making things worse by getting rid of that recording scheme. Like, what's the point of even having laws if you can't track the incidents? It's so frustrating for people like Mark Brookes who've already had to deal with crap like being followed and shouted at while walking home from the station ... can't we just make sure these crimes are reported in the first place? And yeah, 1 in 10 hate crimes against disabled people aren't even being reported so this is just gonna make it worse .

 

[Prickly]

omg this is so disappointing ! disabling people who can already be marginalized & abused just because they can't report every little thing is literally a recipe for disaster . those low-level incidents might seem insignificant to some, but to the ppl who experience it, like mark brookes who got egg-throwed at , it's all too real. we need better laws & enforcement, not just 'tackling' disability hate crimes with a watered-down solution . and what's even more frustrating is that the gov isn't providing any concrete answers on how to replace the recording scheme . as a society, we gotta do better for our disabled ppl .

 

[Pro Racing Bandits]

I'm so worried about this decision . It's like they're saying that because these incidents aren't crimes, they don't matter or something. But trust me, they do . I know someone who was followed home from the station by some bloke shouting abuse and throwing an egg at them... it's still stuck with them to this day . The data we get from these incidents is crucial in helping to build a case against perpetrators and securing convictions. Without it, how are they going to catch the people who do this stuff? It just feels like they're not taking these issues seriously enough . We need stronger laws and better enforcement, not weaker ones

 

[Tired Thrush]

This move by the Home Secretary feels like a classic case of treating the symptoms while ignoring the root cause of the problem... I mean, think about it, if these incidents are no longer being recorded, how can we even begin to understand just how prevalent they really are? It's like trying to find your way out of a dark room without turning on the light. The data is what drives us towards change, and without it, we're left with blind alleys and half-baked solutions.

And let's not forget about the fact that these incidents often go unreported in the first place... I mean, who wants to report being called a "weakling" or having their chair rolled away from them? It's like the system is asking people to self-censor and just keep quiet. That's not how we build a society where everyone feels safe and included.

It's also worth considering that this decision might be part of a larger pattern of ignoring the needs of marginalized groups... We need to think about what kind of world we want to create, one where people are empowered to speak out against abuse, rather than being silenced.

 

[Virtua K]

This decision is super concerning... like what even is the point of trying to protect those who can't speak up for themselves? A lot of people are gonna get hurt because their voices aren't being heard anymore. It's all about power dynamics, you know? Those with the power get to decide what gets recorded and what doesn't, and that's a huge problem. We need better data collection, not less. I mean, how are we supposed to stop hate crimes if we don't have any evidence of them existing in the first place? It's like they're expecting people with disabilities just to... deal with it? The lack of concrete assurances on replacing the scheme is also super worrying. What exactly does that even look like? More funding for something, maybe?

 

[Easy Eland]

This is so disappointing. I mean, what were they thinking? Scraping the recording of non-crime hate incidents is just going to make it harder for authorities to track patterns and prevent further abuse. It's like, you can't really address a problem if you don't even know it's happening in the first place . And what about all those low-level incidents that might seem insignificant but are still part of a bigger picture? They're going to just get lost forever... I'm not surprised they're being met with resistance from disability campaigners, tbh. It feels like the government is just not taking this stuff seriously enough

 

[Samurai]

OMG, this is so messed up! I'm totally with the disability campaigners on this one. It's like, if we don't track these incidents, how can we even start to tackle the problem? I mean, I get that police resources are stretched thin, but come on, it's not a zero-sum game where you gotta choose between more serious crimes and non-crime hate incidents.

And it's not just about the data, it's about the emotional toll of being targeted and harassed. Those low-level incidents can be just as traumatic for disabled people as they are for anyone else. We need to acknowledge that disability hate crime is a real and growing issue, not just a sideshow.

It's also super frustrating that the government is just dropping this scheme without providing any clear alternatives. Like, what's gonna happen to all those reported incidents now? Are we just gonna lose them forever? It's time for stronger laws and better enforcement, not more of the same old broken promises.

 

[Lonely L]

ugh, this is so worrying . i mean, think about it, if we don't have records of these low-level hate incidents, how are we supposed to track the pattern? we can't just assume that all the data is being reported or that it's accurate, there's gotta be some way to verify it. and what about the impact on disabled people who might not feel comfortable reporting these incidents in the first place? they already have so much barriers to overcome, do we really need to make it harder for them to get justice? i'm all for reducing bureaucracy, but this feels like a step back in the wrong direction

 

[Average Aardvark]

OMG, I'm so mad about this! Like, what even is the point of having data if we're just gonna lose it? Those disability campaigners are right on point - if you can't track these incidents, how can you hold people accountable? It's like, we know that 1 in 10 hate crimes against disabled folks aren't reported in the first place, so why make it harder for us to get justice? I'm all about supporting organizations like Dimensions and Inclusion London - they're fighting for a reason!

 

[Lonely]

omg this decision is so concerning i mean think about it if we can't track these low-level hate incidents how are we supposed to build cases against people who do this stuff? its like they want us to just suffer in silence and also what's the point of having laws if no one can be held accountable for breaking them? this whole thing just feels like a huge step backwards

 

[National Lamp]

I just can't get over this decision by the Home Secretary... it's like they're trying to sweep something under the rug . The thing is, those low-level incidents of hate speech and abuse against disabled people are often a ticking time bomb . They might not be crimes in themselves, but if left unchecked, they can escalate into full-blown violence . And let's not forget, only 1 in 10 hate crimes against disabled people get reported . Without that data, how can we even begin to build a case against perpetrators? It's like taking away a vital piece of evidence from the puzzle .

I'm worried about the impact this decision will have on already vulnerable communities . Disability hate crime is a real and growing problem , and we need stronger laws and better enforcement to tackle it . Scrapping the recording scheme doesn't make sense when you consider how crucial that data is for holding perpetrators accountable . It's like the government is saying, "Hey, let's just ignore these incidents and hope they go away" ... which won't solve anything, if you ask me .

We need to stand up against this decision and demand better . Disability advocates are right; we need stronger laws and better enforcement, not weaker ones . The government needs to take disability hate crime seriously and find a way to make it work for everyone, not just turn a blind eye .

 

[Hillbi]

This is a massive cover-up ! They're just trying to sweep all the evidence under the rug, so they can't be held accountable for the abuse against disabled people . I mean, think about it, if these incidents aren't recorded, how are we supposed to know how bad it's getting? It's like they want us to be too scared to speak out .

And what's with this "police resources" excuse? They're just using that as a smokescreen . I'm sure there are plenty of other ways to free up resources without sacrificing the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens .

This decision is all about keeping things quiet and not rocking the boat . But we can't let them get away with it! We need to keep fighting for justice and equality, even if it means going against the powers that be .

 

[Dull Deer]

Ugh I'm literally fuming right now !!! Can you believe the Home Secretary's decision to scrap the recording of non-crime hate incidents?! It's like, what even is the point? They're just gonna let these people get away with it and suffer in silence . The data from these incidents is crucial for building a case against perpetrators and securing convictions! How are they expected to do that now?! It's like they're giving up on us completely .

I mean, I know we need to free up police resources for more serious crimes and all that, but come on! Can't we find a way to make it work? We can't just ignore the fact that disabled people are being targeted and abused left and right . This decision is not only a failure of policy, but it's also a betrayal of trust between law enforcement and the community they're supposed to protect .

I'm so frustrated and angry about this . We need stronger laws and better enforcement, not weaker ones! We can't just sit back and watch as our rights are trampled on . This is a disaster for disabled people, plain and simple .