Mencap responds to DPP's speech on hate crime

Thursday 03 March 2011

Mencap chief executive Mark Goldring, said:

"We are pleased to hear the Crown Prosecution Service and the Director of Public Prosecutions acknowledging publicly the justice system is currently failing victims of disability hate crime.

"There are many challenges that people with a learning disability face when engaging with the criminal justice system, including whether prosecutors consider them to be reliable witnesses. It is pleasing to hear that this is at last being recognised.

"Of course, recognising the problem is only the first step. We look forward to working with the CPS to improve how they interact with and support people with a learning disability.

"Later this year Mencap will be launching its Stand by Me campaign against disability hate crime which will challenge the police, the justice system and the courts to take a lead in ending hate crime against people with a learning disability."

ENDS

For more information please contact Nicola Thompson on 0207 696 5603 or email nicola.thompson@mencap.org.uk.

Notes to editors

• About Mencap

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also the largest service provider of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. See http://www.mencap.org.uk/ for more information.

• About learning disability

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always life-long and affects someone's intellectual and social development. It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive. Learning disability is NOT a mental illness. The term learning difficulty is often incorrectly used interchangeably with learning disability.