Impact of Hate Crimes on Disabled People in the UK

This article analyzes the literature on the impact of hate crimes on disabled people in the UK. It discusses the definition of hate crimes, the prevalence of hate crimes against disabled people, and the biological, psychological, and social effects of these crimes. The article emphasizes the need for prioritizing disability hate crime prevention and raising awareness.

Introduction
The wrong handling or misuse of something is abuse. Abuse seems
more inclined to occur among individuals who require care and support.Abuse is becoming more
prevalent every day.Growing problem of abuse is having a negative impact on people's health
and wellbeing.Various forms of abuse are prevalent as Physical, Sexual, Emotional, Neglect,
Child exploitation, Child trafficking. Recently, a new type of abuse “Hate Crimes” has emerged,
which affects people with disabilities.This poster will give a general overview of hate crimes in
the UK and will focus on how they affect disabled people. There will also be an introduction of
pertinent guidelines, laws, and literature to stop hate crimes(White, 2017).
Task 1
Definition of hate crime
Based on the definition of a hate crime, these crimes are "criminal offences committed because
of actual or perceived race, colour, spirituality, race, ethnicity, or nationality; gender, gender
identity; disability; or sexual orientation." Federal law in the United Kingdom defines hate
crimes as crimes committed because of a person's race, nationality, sex, disability, or religion. It
may also include offencesbrought on by animosity toward transgender people.The Crime and
Disorder Act of 1998 and Section 66 of the Sentencing Act of 2020 both state that there are
primarily three categories of hate crimes that can happen in the U.K
(Smith & Carr, 2004).
i Physical assault:Once someone physically harms another person, whether they do it
alone, in a group, with or without a weapon, or by threatening to do so is known as
physical assault.
ii Verbal abuse:Once someone manipulates another person’s emotions by using their terms
to fear in them, this known as verbal abuse.
iii Incitement to hatred:Once someone behaves in a hostile manner with the intent to incite
hatred, it is a crime known as incitement to hatred

Prevalence of Hate Crime in the UK Focusing on Disabled People
An extreme version of prejudice, hate crimes are more likely to occur in an environment of
changes in society and politics. Violators might be divining more by fear, ignorance, or anger
than by hate. These can result in targeted aggression and the demonization of strange
clusters.The laws against hate crimes in the United Kingdom combine general provisions for
enhanced penalties with specific offences. Depending on police data entries, the home Office
compiles and publishes data on hate crimes in England and Wales. The Procurator Fiscal and
Police Scotland in Scotland are responsible for gathering data.When it discusses the prevalence
of hate crimes in the UK, it can see that police in England and Wales reported 155,841 hate
crimes during the year ending March 2022.
A study conducted by (Bean, 2017) found the significant percentage of hate crimes in the
past were racially motivated, making up three-quarters of such offences (74%; 85,268
offences); the number among these crimes rose by 12% between both the years ending in
March 2021and 2022.

A study conducted by Braye (2020) found that a portion of the centrally maintained hate crime
counts, which were a motivating factor in 155,841 crimes reported to the police in 2021-2022.
Over the figures for 2020–2021, this represented a 26% increase. The increase in the quantity
ofhate crimes reported to the police overtime partially attributed to improved capture methods
and a growing emphasis on monitoring them (Braye & Preston-Shoot, 2020)

According to these three graphs and the study conducted by Sherry et al. (2022)found that in
England and Wales in 2021–2022, 100% of hate crimes against disabled people will take place if
5% of disabled people have experienced non-fatal violence against other disabled people., 40%
of people with disabilities have committed public order offences, 5% of people with disabilities
committed other notable crimes, 40% of people with disabilities report being stalked or harassed,
5% of people with disabilities have been the victims of violence,
5% of people with disabilities commit crimes.
A study conducted by Bean (2017) found that, through older groups, the difference in average
anxiety ratings between people with disabilities and those without disabilities gets smaller. In
comparison to non-disabled people, disabled people have a median rating that is 2.19 points
higher in the 16–21 age group and 1.32 points higher in the 60–64 age group.
This consequence is also evident in sadness, where differences between people with disabilities
and those without them are most minimal in older age groups. Also study by Devine (2018)
found that, as individuals age, there is minor change in the average pleasure, validity, and
satisfaction with life scores with both disabled and non-disabled people.
 In comparison to one in five (20.7%) non-disabled adults, one in four (23.1%)
disabled adults aged sixteen and over who witnessed crime did so during the fiscal
year ending in March 2021.
 In comparison to non-disabled adults, who made up 1 in 20, domestic abuse affected
about 1 in 7 (14.1%) disabled adults with ages of 16 and 59 in the year fiscal year
Ending March 2021.
 Domestic abuse was more prevalent among disabled women (17.3%) than non-
disabled women (7.0%) in the year fiscal year ending 2021.
 Compared to 1.9% of non-disabled adults, 3.7% of disabled adults aged 16 to 59
reported having been sexually assaulting in the three years ending March 2018.
 Women with disabilities were about twice as likely (5.7%) as non-disabled women
(3.0%) to have faced any molestation in the previous year, according to data from the
three years ending in March 2021(Chakraborti & Garland, 2015).

2010/11 2014/15 2018/19 2020/212008/09
According to the most recent estimates from the Family Resources Survey(2021), 14.6 million
peoplein the UKdisabled during the fiscal year 2020-2021,
that is 22% of the overall nation.This time, the percentage of the population reporting a disability
has increased from 18% by four percentage points. This growth seen over the previous ten years,
withprevalence ofdisabilities rising by three percentfrom 19% in 2010–2011to 22% in 2020–21.
The likelihood of disabled increases with age in the UK in 2020–21,about 9% of
childrendisabled, compared to 21% of adults of working age and 42% of adult people over
retirement age. Among those eighty and older, 59% reported having a disability(Dehaghani,
2019).
On each of the four individual well-being provisions, disabled adults rated less favorably than
non-disabled adults(Mantell & Scragg, 2011). The mean scores as follows:
 Disabled people scored 6.54 out of ten on happiness compared to 7.71 for non-disabled
people.
 People with disabilities scored 7.09 out of ten for believing that their efforts in life are
worthwhile, compared to 8.03 for people without disabilities.
 Disabled people scored 4.27 out of ten for anxiety, compared to 2.66 for non-disabled
people.

Diabetes
Cancer
Heart
diseases
Long Term
Effects
Short Term
Effects
Weight
issues
Eating
issues
Sleeping
issues
The UK is seeing an increase in hate crimes against people with disabilities, which is sad news
for the country's economy. A human has no right to attack or target another due to that person
body attributes, age, race, or disability. If inclined or disabled victims are involved, hate crimes
are demoralizing (Hall et al., 2018).
Task 2
Analyse the literature on the impact of Hate Crimes on disabled people in the
UK
Hate crimes begin as smaller-scale offences that develop into much more serious and persistent
offences. When victims experience these things, the combined effect can ruin their lives by
causing long-term trauma and mental distress(Roulstone & Mason-Bish, 2014). People who
made to feel as though they do not belong frequently alter their existences or doubt their
personality to stop even more cases.In that case we can get two types of impacts. One is brief
time and another one is long term(Mantell & Scragg, 2011).
Biological Impact
The risk to our psychological and emotional well-being can come from hate crimes and other
hate-related cases. These offences can have a negative impact on someone's mental wellbeing,
physical wellbeing, or ability to control their emotions(Chakraborti & Garland, 2015).

Hate crimes committed against disabled people. However, there is a lack of uniformity among
police forces, and knowledge and training are inconsistent. Disability hate crime must be
prioritised more urgently on both the national and local levels.Psychological damage can result
from hate crimes as
 Become distrustful of anyone who belongs to the victim's group.
 Figure this stuff out, guilty, and afraid that victim will suffer harm once more.
 Feel exposed, unsafe, or distracted.
 Refuse the aspect of victim’s identity that was the goal of the hate crime.
In the UK, there were 43% more hate crimes committed against disabled people last year than
the year before. Hate crimes or hate speech can have a long-lasting negative effect on a person's
mental health and well-being in addition to having an immediate psychological impact.The
victims of hate crimes affected both short and long time. These types of disabled people
experience the same biological effects of hate crimes. Moreover, women are victims of hate
crimes more frequently than men(NAGESH, 2020).

A study conducted by Braye,and Preston-Shoot (2020) shows that hate crimes have negative
health effects on people.For disabled individuals, the effects of domestic abuse on their health
are much worse. The extent and length of sexual assault undergone by disabled people, as well as
the vastly greater rates of sexual assault, may all contribute to this. Compared to disabled women
who have witnessed domestic violence, disabled women who has observed sexual assault are
about 35% less likely to describe being in good to great health. 31 People with disabilities are
more likely than people without disabilities to report that domestic abuse caused their anxiety,
distress, or paranoia. 37 Sexual abuses can have an adverse effect on a woman's capacity to
manage her important physical impairments and trigger the emergence of life-altering worsening
of symptoms(Hall et al., 2018). 49 Delay in beginning antenatal care is strongly linking to
domestic violence.People with disabilities are suffering because of hate crimes because they are
unable to properly eat and drink.
Psychological Impact

Traumatized
Stress
disorder
Fear
Long Term
Effects
Short Term
Effects
Loss of
confidence
Depression
Anxiety
People victimized by violent hate crimes are more likely to experience more psychological
distress than victims of other violent crimes. Specifically, victims of crimes that are bias-
motivated(Zempi & Awan, 2019) are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress, safety
concerns, depression, anxiety, and anger than victims of crimes. Hate crimes send messages to
members of the victim’s group that they are unwelcome and unsafe in the community,
victimizing the entiregroup and decreasing feelings of safety and security.Furthermore,
witnessing discrimination against one’s own group can lead to psychological distress and lower
self-esteem(Sherry, 2010).
An evaluation-based study conducted by Sherry (2021) on gender reveals found that46% of
women and 5% of men are afraid because of hate crimes against disabled people. The most
severely disabled by hate crimes are women between the ages of 22 and 55. Disabled Black
women develop mistrust issues due to their exposure to hate crimes. Seventy-six percent of
disabled individuals with impaired vision said they had been the victim of a robbery when they
were young.

Survey shows that 42% of survivors of hate crimes felt scared or lost confidence after the crime,
compared to 19% of victims of all crimes. Eighteen percent of those who were the victims of
hate attacks reported feeling depressed after the invasion. Twenty-nine percent of hate crime
victims had trouble sleeping and 34% experienced anxieties or panic attacks.

From the graph it can see that the psychological impact held 15% in Depression, 18% in Anxiety
10% in Decreased participation in the community. Nine percent in Decreased participation
online and 15% in Change in behavior to prevent incidents(Mantell & Scragg, 2021).
Social Impact
As disabled people become more isolated from society, the long-term influences of hate crimes
are worse than the immediate effects. Out of three hundred people, 67% of those who regularly
participate in social activities report having improved physical and mental health. The study
conducted by Dehaghani, (2020) also revealed that individuals with more difficulties with mental
health avoid going out and getting involved in the special event.
Once they undergo hate crimes, 5% of disabled men and 46% of women reduce their socialising.
People with disabilities aged 16 to 27 reported experiencing traumas, which has an impact on
their academic performance. The graphs give undeniable proof that hate crimes affect all people
of various ages and cause them to fear for their lives(Bean, 2020).
A study conducted byMantell and Scragg (2020) found that, disabled people become more
isolated from society, the long-term social consequences of hate crimes are worse than the short-
term ones. Due to their regular participation in social activities and peer interaction, 67% of 300
individuals surveyed reported having improved mental and physical health. The study also
demonstrated that individuals who stay home and do not take part in the special event are more

likely to experience mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. An
elevated risk of developing eating disorders, depressed mood, and anxiety is present among those
who are socially isolated. As a result, they are more open to social pressures, which puts them at
risk. For this reason, it is crucial to include everyone in all social events. Therefore, it can say
from the results of these study results that hate crimes destroy an individual(Burch, 2021).
Task 3
Analysis of the evidence-based literature, legislation, and guidance
on the best ways to intervene and prevent disability hate crimes in
the UK
Evidence-based Literature
Among 2015–16 and 2016–17, reports of hate crimes on British railways rose by 23%, and the
number of known incidents of hate crimes against disabled people in the UK risen by 249%.
Although estimates place the number of people with disabilities at 19% of the global population,
there has not yet been any focused research to realise survivor knowledge. Hate crimes against
disabled people frequently occur in settings like mass transit(Burch, 2021).
The prevalence and incidence of hate crimes against people with disabilities in the UK is rising,
according to a study by the University of Bristol. Approaches that focus on family relationships
have shown to be successful in preventing hate crimes. The study found that 62% of those with
positive family relationships with one of their representatives did not encounter violent acts
again.(Hall et al., 2018).
The goal of human care is to put the person first, not to treat their physical or mental problems.
In accordance with this theory, a physician shouldprotect or supported in the manner of their
choice. If the individual is covering by the Care Act 2014, an affair to adult safeguarding
procedures. Any individual who needs support and care and who is facing neglect or abuse or is
at risk of doing so is consideringfalling under this category(White, 2017).

Legislation and Guidance
Under the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 grave infractions are those that start with a base
offence but are either encouraged by or show hostility toward a specific group. The maximum
punishment for severe offences is greater than those for base offences. There are currently severe
wrongs for related crimes ethnicity or religious hostility(Leng et al., 1998).
Without introducing new felonies or raising the heavy sentence, the Imprisonment Rule permits
judges to consider evidence that an abusermotivated by or showed hostility toward a specific
group as an indictable offence. This cover discrimination based on race, religion, sexual
orientation, gender identity, or a physical or mental disability(Leng et al., 1998).
Acts that intended to or are likely to incite hostility defined by the Public Order Act of 1986. The
law forbids treating patients unfairly because of their age, gender, marital status, race, religion,
or gender identity. The Equality Act of 2010 makes it possible for private citizens to sue a person
or organisation for treating them unfairly (Braye & Preston-Shoot, 2020).
Everyone has a responsibility to defend disabled individuals from hate crimes. Reporting
incidents to the police, dissuading the abusers, and assuming accountability are ways to prevent
hate crimes in the UK. Collaborating to Safeguard Adults 2018 and Preserving Disabled People
Safe 2020 guidelines created to guarantee that disabled individuals guarded from all kinds of
abuse(MA,2020).
Conclusions of Findings
Those anti-hate crime legislation must function to safeguard society's most marginalised groups,
both and figuratively. Required to give that each type of criminal act has already shown to be a
serious social issue deserving of clear legal security, senators should begin by holding that all
types of racial profiling should have created equal(Marini & Stebnicki, 2018) under violent
crime laws. Only in cases when there is a compelling case for doing otherwise could this be the
issue in law. When laws cannot put into practise, the legislature should work to either entirely
repeal the safeguards for all protected classes or modify the language of the clauses to assure the
law is applying equally and continuously among all layers(White, 2017).Laws on hate crimes
must be effective in protecting society's most vulnerable groups, both essentially and
figuratively. According to the Making Safeguarding Personal method, other powerful defences

against disability hate crimes in the UK include family members, the police, caregivers, and
esteem or team activism(NAGESH, 2020).
Recommendations for Health and Social Care Professionals in the UK to prevent Disability
Hate Crimes
 Health and social care providers are creating new social installations to examine creative
ways that populations can interact to hate crime to highlight peer solutions.
 When people who are disabled face prejudice or harassment because of how they conduct
their lives, they are more inclined to file hate crimes. A new set of guidelines released by
the Inclusivity Believe advises health and social care professionals to guarantee the safety
and dignity of disabled people.
 The health and social care Professionals can launch a diversity of nonprofits to raise
awareness of hate crimes.
 All health and social care professionals should act professionally to allow the victim of a
hate crime to communicate their feelings to them effectively and feel that they are in a
safe place. Health and social care professionals can introduce new philosophies to easily
prevent hate crimes.

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