Cumbria Police today signed up to Mencap’s ‘Stand by me’ police promise to show their commitment to ending hate crime against people with a learning disability.
Mencap launched the ‘Stand by me’ campaign during Learning Disability Week 2010 and has called on police services to commit to a police promise that will help make sure people with a learning disability can live their lives free from the fear of crime.
The ‘Stand by me’ charter consists of ten points of best practice that will complement their existing work to support people with a learning disability. This has included working with Eden Mencap and People First to host a Hate Crime Conference, which focussed on disability hate crime. This is due to be replicated countywide in the spring. Smaller workshops have also taken place to identify hate crime and the process in place for reporting incidents, and trainee police officers regularly complete projects with local care homes and charities to ensure they understand the issues faced by people with a learning disability.
Alongside the policing promise Mencap will work with officers to develop practical guidance and spell out the adjustments they need to make to sure they can support victims with a learning disability.
Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Skeer said: “It is the job of the police to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, and by signing up to Mencap’s ‘Stand by me’ pledge, we can make sure our service is tailored to the needs of people with a learning disability.
“We don’t want anyone to suffer in silence, so if you or anyone you know has been a victim of hate crime, then contact police immediately, so that we can support you and bring offenders to justice.”
David Congdon, Mencap’s head of campaigns and policy, said: “Many police services are doing good work, and their response is getting better. Other services are still failing to support victims of disability hate crime. Through the ‘Stand by me campaign’ we want to make sure that all police services are following the example set by the best services. We welcome Cumbria Constabulary's commitment to constantly strive to uphold these standards and help end disability hate crime in a generation.”
For more information on the 'Stand by me' campaign and charter, and to show your support, www.mencap.org.uk/standbyme
The ‘Stand by me’ – policing promise
Mencap are asking police services to pledge to:
1. Make sure that information is available and presented in a suitable form.
2. Get better evidence and increase convictions by allowing more time for interviews, particularly where the victim has difficulty communicating.
3. Understand how to identify if someone has a learning disability.
4. Listen to, respect and involve families, carers and support staff of disabled people.
5. Challenge discriminatory attitudes and language among fellow officers.
6. Ensure that victims are kept up to date with the progress of the case once they have reported a crime.
7. Recognise that disability hate crime is as harmful as other types of hate crime.
8. Don’t label disability hate crime as anti-social behaviour – identify the crime and deal with it.
9. Hold regular beat meetings and ensure they are open to disabled people.
10. Display the 'Stand by me' promises where everyone can see them.
About Stand by me
Any crime where the victim or any other person, feels they are being targeted because of their disability is a disability hate crime. Research shows that these crimes have a far bigger impact than other crimes and often leave victims afraid to engage in everyday activity.
‘Stand by me’ aims to engage the police, the criminal justice system and the courts to end hate crime against people with a learning disability within a generation. For more information or to sign up to the campaign, go to
www.mencap.org.uk/standbyme
About Mencap
Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws, improve services and increase access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they choose.
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 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 lifelong 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.