Police meeting on Pilkington case - Mencap responds

Tuesday 13 October 2009

Mencap responds to a public meeting held today (13 October) where the Constabulary were questioned regarding police action on the Pilkington case.

Mark Goldring, Chief Executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said:

"We need concrete plans and solutions for how the authorities, such as the housing association, social services and police, act on information involving vulnerable people with a learning disability.

"Hate crimes of all levels against people with a learning disability must be treated as seriously as race hate crime otherwise people with a learning disability and their families and carers will continue to live in fear.

"Mencap wants people with a learning disability and their families who have been victims of hate crime to share their stories by visiting www.mencap.org.uk/livinginfear "

ENDS

For interviews or further information contact Stacey Kerr on 020 7696 5950, 07770 6566 59 (out of hours) or email stacey.kerr@mencap.org.uk

Other cases of hate crime and abuse against people with a learning disability:

• David Cox (June 2009): Despite moving home, 18-year old David was knocked to the ground and killed during an altercation with a group of youths. Three men were arrested and bailed, pending further investigation.
• Brent Martin (2007): repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on and head butted by three youths.
• Steven Hoskin (2006): violently tortured before being forced to take a lethal does of painkillers and fall from a bridge to his death
• Kevin Davies (2006): beaten, locked in a shed, and only given scraps of food to eat while thieves stole his benefit money.
• Christine Lakinski (2007): collapsed outside her home and while she lay dying, her neighbour urinated on her and covered her with shaving foam. He filmed this on his mobile phone while other people watched.

Notes to editors

• Mencap works with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
• 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability.
• A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong.
• Learning disability affects someone's intellectual and social development all their life. People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate.
• People with a learning disability don't get an equal chance in life. Mencap fights to change laws and services and to provide better access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.
• It is not a mental illness and should not be confused with mental health issues. It is not dyslexia or Asperger's syndrome.
• It used to be called mental handicap but we don't use this term anymore because most people with a learning disability find it offensive.
• For information about learning disability issues please call the Learning Disability Helpline (England) on 0808 808 1111 or visit www.mencap.org.uk