Date: Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:24:55 +0000
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Disablist crimes
From: Paul Gaffney <[FOI #23800 email]>
To: FOI requests at Metropolitan Police Authority <[Metropolitan Police Authority request email]>


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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