New Video Tackles Disability Crime

Hampshire Constabulary is launching a new video to raise awareness of disability hate crime. The inititiative is aimed at both police officers and the wider community.

Currently many disability hate crimes go unreported.  Hampshire Police are hoping the new film will help to encourage people with disabilities to come forward and report it when they are subjected to abuse.

Police worked with local arts company, Blue Apple Theatre, to make Paul’s Story, which looks at the police response in the case of a young man with autism.

Raising Awareness

The video has gained support from disability charity, Scope, which said the film is a “creative approach” to raising awareness of the importance of reporting hate crimes.

In the video a man with Asperger Syndrome is involved in what appears to be a dispute with a neighbour.  It later transpires he is suffering different forms of abuse from the whole community.

Superintendent James Fulton commented: “The main message of this film to people who have been the victims of disability hate crimes is don’t put up with it!

If you’re able to tell someone – the police, a friend, a carer – then there are many things we in the police can do to resolve problems.”

Research carried out by charity, Mencap suggested nine out of 10 people with a learning disability had been a victim of hate crime.

The film was funded by the Home Office’s Community Action Against Crime Innovation Fund and was shot in Winchester using local actors and police officers.  It will be premiered at the Everyman Cinema in Winchester next month.