Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:24:55 +0000
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Disablist crimes
From: Paul Gaffney <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: FOI requests at Metropolitan Police Authority <xxx@xxx.xxx.xx>


     Dear Sir or Madam,
     
     Section 143 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 allows for sentences
     to be increased for disablist hate crimes. The law
     specificallyrefers to hostility based on 'the disability or
     perceiveddisability of the victim' and offences motivated by
     hostilitytowards persons who have a disability. Such crimes attract
     little
     public outcry. There is a deep lack of awareness about disablist
     crime, similar to the public's ignorance of racist hate crimes
     prior to the Stephen Lawrence case. It eventually became awatershed
     case, which resonated widely with the public and led to stiffer
     sentencing for racist crime .
     
     Question
     
     1)How many people have been investigated or indeed charged with
     such crimes?
     2)Further how many have been convicted?
     
     Yours faithfully,
     
     Paul GaffneyLLB BA
     
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