Campaign launched to tackle disability hate crime

North Wales Police have teamed up with partners to launch a campaign to raise awareness of disability hate crime and encourage more victims to come forward and report matters to the police.

 

The bi-lingual poster campaign was launched Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay.

 

North Wales Police and representatives from TAPE, Wired and ARRIVA came together to launch the initiative which will run as a pilot for two weeks.

 

An ARRIVA bus was present outside headquarters to mark the launch which was attended by Chief Superintendent Simon Humphreys and Greg George of North Wales Police, Winston Roddick, the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, and Wired – an organisation which supports people to live as independently and with as much choice and control as possible.

 

“We know that disability hate crime is under reported in North Wales and we hope that this campaign will go some way to raising awareness of the issue,” said Chief Superintendent Simon Humphreys. 

 

“It is important that victims of disability hate crime, as well as members of the public who believe they have witnessed such an incident, should report it to police.”

 

Greg George, Head of the Diversity Unit at NWP, said: “The Diversity Unit work closely with disabled people (and those who support them) to deal with the policing issues that affect them. It is from one of our regular meetings that the idea to run the campaign was born. A challenge was set for community members to devise a poster – scores of which will now be displayed on ARRIVA buses. The campaign has the full support of ARRIVA and the posters will be displayed on all buses travelling out of the Rhyl depot.”

 

Len Cater, General Manager, Arriva, Rhyl, said: “Arriva Buses Wales is proud to support the North Wales Police campaign to stop disability hate crime. It is important that any hate crime is reported, and we are pleased to be able to help publicise the issue on our buses in the area.”

 

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner commended the initiative and said: "This is an important campaign to inform people about disability hate crime.  It brings the Force and the community together to target offenders and tackle the problem.”

 

TAPE Community Music and Film have also written and produced a short video which looks at the issues of reducing stigma for people with a learning disability.

 

Steve Swindon, CEO, TAPE community Music and Film, said: “The development of the hate crime poster has stemmed directly from the work of the Stigma production team and their desire to make a difference to the lives of other people. They have worked with a consistent professionalism and real focus, using their own experiences to inform the work and ensure that the key message comes across clearly.

 

“We at TAPE are extremely proud to have been involved in supporting this project."

 

Adult Services Manager of the Wired group Susan Cassapi said: “Wired’s ethos is that all people are part of society and this campaign goes a long way to address the issue of hate crimes and bullying that some disabled people face every day. We are delighted to have been involved. 

 

“Wired feel that this poster campaign will make people think more about hate crimes.”