Disability hate crime is rising in London, while the number of prosecutions and convictions is falling. How is the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) working with its partners to increase both prosecutions and convictions for disability hate crime?

We know that disability hate crimes are among the most under-reported, so while a rise in the number of offences is concerning, I am encouraged that more people are feeling confident to report what has happened to them.

The MPS has refreshed its approach to tackling hate crime, improving support to victims, providing stronger responses towards offenders and focusing on performance and outcomes. As part of this approach, they are working with CPS disability hate crime leads to improve the prosecution and conviction rate and will undertake case reviews of disability hate crime reports with the aim of improving outcomes for victims.

Both the MPS and MOPAC work with Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations, through the Disability IAG and the Hate Crime Stakeholder Reference Group, to better understand the needs of disability hate crime victims.