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EQuIP raise awareness of 'Mate and Hate crime' as part of Learning Disability Awareness Week 2019

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Mate and hate crime

As part of Leaning Disability Awareness Week (17th-24th June 2019), Warwickshire’s pan-equalities charity, The Equality and Inclusion Partnership (EQuIP) wanted to raise awareness of Mate and Hate Crime.

You may have heard of the terms 'mate crime' and 'hate crime'.  

So what is mate crime?

Mate crime is when someone says they are your friend, but they do things that take advantage of you, like ask you for money and simply take advantage of another person for their own personal gain.

A real friend does not need to be bought, and someone who takes your money, asks you to pay for lots of things, or makes you feel uncomfortable is not a true friend. If someone who says they are your friend hurts you, steals from you or makes you do something you don’t want to do, you should tell to someone you trust right away.

The murder of Gemma Hayter in Rugby in 2010 is a reminder of how vulnerable people with a learning disbility can be targetted by people who set out to exploit them. A recent BBC article regarding Gemma Hayter can be viewed using the following weblink - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/751ddfd4-2b7a-4f3f-9a07-2f2ec29c985a 

What is hate crime?

Hate crime is when someone does something to hurt someone because of who they are, this can be physically or emotionally - such as because of their race, sexuality or disability. If someone is mean to you because of your learning disability, you should always report them to the police or you can also report to another relevant organisation.

In Warwickshire, a charity called The Equality and Inclusion Partnership (EQuIP) offer specialist support to people with a disability who have either experienced or witnessed hate crime.

Statistics about hate and ‘Mate Crime’

- Between 2011 and 2013, there were 124,000 disability hate crimes (Crime Survey for England and Wales)

- According to official and unofficial statistics, disability hate crime in Warwickshire has increased year-on-year since 2015/16

- There was a further increase of reported disability hate crime in Warwickshire in 2017/18 compared to 2016/17

- Disability hate crime has occured in all five districts/boroughs in Warwickshire during 2017/18

- 56% of disabled people say that they have experienced hostility, aggression or violence from a stranger because of their condition or impairment (ComRes, 2011)

Reporting a hate crime

If you have experienced a hate crime or mate crime, you probably feel very upset, confused and scared.

You can tell EQuIP about your experience and they are able to support you to report it to the police. It might sound scary reporting it to the police, but by doing this, you might help stop these incidents from happening to someone else. Reporting to the police also helps them to know the scale of hate and mate crime in your area, and deal with it better.

Of course, you do not have to report your experience to the police, but you may wish to contact EQuIP so they can offer support to you on a 1-2-1 basis and any information you share will be kept confidential and your identity will be completely protected.  

 

How to report a crime

Report it online via the www.reporthatenow.com website

Email EQuIP via advice@equipequality.org.uk

Call EQuIP on 01788 863117 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Phone your local police using 101 for non-emergency situations, but always call 999 in an emergency.

 

Five tips for reporting hate crime

1. Ask someone you know and trust to be with you when you report - like a parent, partner, friend, carer or support worker.

2. Explain that you have a learning disability and ask the respondent to use simple language that you can understand.

3. Ask if there is any easy read information available to you.

4. If they use a word you don’t understand, ask them to explain the word.

5. If you call the police and they don’t take it seriously, please contact EQuIP and they will ensure your report is dealt with.

In addition to supporting victims of hate crime, EQuIP offer a range of education and training courses which offer professionals in frontline positions, Managers and community leaders an opportunity to access Hate Crime Awareness Training.

For further information regarding education and training, please visit the EQuIP website located at https://www.equipequality.org.uk/training. 

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Don't be afraid, speak up - silence hides hate

report hate now