Disability hate crime response

Dear A Novis

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom Of Information Act 2000, of which we acknowledge receipt.

Your request has been passed to the appropriate officer to provide a response as soon as possible, and in any event within 20 working days, as required by the Act.

Kind regards

Miriam Townsend, for

Data Management Officer
North Yorkshire County Council
01609 533219 [email address]

Access your county council services online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.northyorks.gov.uk.

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North Yorkshire County Council’s computer systems and communications may be monitored to ensure effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. All GCSX traffic may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

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North Yorkshire County Council.

Dear A Novis

Thank you for your request for information.

In North Yorkshire County Council we recognise that the number of hate incidents and hate crimes are significantly under-reported across the country (national data suggests only 1 in 4 are reported). We have convened a task group to look at this issue, the details of which are attached. Disability is included in the remit and participation of this group. This group will ensure that we can build a better picture of what is happening in North Yorkshire, where the gaps in support are and how they can be addressed. Our initial phase of work is collecting the sort of evidence that has been requested by yourself. We are collecting data from within NYCC and across the North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership organisations.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is also holding a formal Inquiry into this subject, both from the point of view of victims and what different organisations are doing to prevent it. This should also supplement the information we have on the extent of incidents in North Yorkshire and possible solutions. If you would like to receive a copy of our response to the EHRC in September, and a summary from the task group, please feel free to submit a further request after 15 September, when it should be available.

The 2009 review of our Disability Equality Scheme shows the progress we have made on implementing the Scheme and updates the context we are working in.

The new Single Equality Scheme (SES) replaces the Disability Equality Scheme. The objectives set out in the SES are drawn from a wide range of corporate plans.

These and other relevant documents are available on our website at;

http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?...

The main plan relating to disability is the Equal Lives Strategy, which is developed by the NYSP Physical and Sensory Impairment Partnership and sets objectives for all partners. The current Equal Lives strategy is also available at:

The equal lives strategy is available at;

http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/CHttpHandle...

In the Adult and Community Services Directorate's Service Performance Plan 10/11, we have an action under the heading: "Freedom from discrimination or harassment: Equality of access to services. Not being subject to abuse" to "Work towards a coordinated BSL interpretation service for deaf people."

In the Safeguarding Adults Board Plan for 2010/11 we have the following outcome:
'People feeling safe and keeping safe in communities (free from discrimination and harassment' - measures for 2010/11 are -
1)evidence of preventative work on disability harassment and hate crime.
2)evidence that there are links between the Board and safer Communities partnership - there will be a safeguarding presentation at the Safer Communities partnership in September.

We are also working on further awareness raising for library staff about people with learning disabilities, and extending the work done in Hambleton/Richmondshire (developing safe places within libraries, training staff to support victims of hate crimes or bullying) to other areas across North Yorkshire.

In addition, actions to protect and prevent the harassments of disabled people as a recognised vulnerable group are addressed through numerous strategies and policies, many of which are available at http://www.nysp.org.uk/. In particular the Sustainable Community Strategy for North Yorkshire 2008/18 and the Linked Local Area Agreement 2008/11 which sets out key priorities and targets to achieve the vision of making North Yorkshire an even better place in which to live, work and visit.

I hope that this information is useful to you.

Kind regards

Miriam Townsend, for

Data Management Officer
North Yorkshire County Council
01609 533219 [email address]

Access your county council services online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.northyorks.gov.uk.

WARNING

Any opinions or statements expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual and not necessarily those of North Yorkshire County Council.

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you receive this in error, please do not disclose any information to anyone, notify the sender at the above address and then destroy all copies.

North Yorkshire County Council’s computer systems and communications may be monitored to ensure effective operation of the system and for other lawful purposes. All GCSX traffic may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance with relevant legislation.

Although we have endeavoured to ensure that this e-mail and any attachments are free from any virus we would advise you to take any necessary steps to ensure that they are actually virus free.

If you receive an automatic response stating that the recipient is away from the office and you wish to request information under either the Freedom of Information Act, the Data Protection Act or the Environmental Information Regulations please forward your request by e-mail to the Data Management Team ([North Yorkshire County Council request email]) who will process your request.

North Yorkshire County Council.