A card to make it easier for people with learning disabilities to report hate crime has been launched in Warwickshire.
The ‘I want to report a hate crime’ card has been produced by Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire Police and the local Learning Disability Partnership Board. It has been designed to take into account an individual’s communications needs, so that just by showing the card it is visually clear that someone is asking for help. Its credit card size fits into a wallet and contains telephone numbers of who to contact if they have been subject to a hate crime. T
his move was borne out of a recent survey by the council of more than 70 people with a learning disability. It found that more than 50% had been a victim of hate crime at some point during their lives. Additionally, some 90% said that they knew who to report a hate crime to and a third of people said that a reporting card would make it easier for people with a learning disability to report a hate crime.
Janine Wheatley, who has a learning disability, is co-chair of Warwickshire’s Learning Disability Partnership Board. She said: “It’s important that all people who are vulnerable know about hate crime. Lots of people with learning disabilities suffer and that is wrong.”
The card will be distributed to 2,000 people including people with a learning disability and their carers. The council is also working with New Ideas Advocacy and together they have been visiting customer groups and holding sessions to raise awareness of disability hate crime. Chris Lewington, strategic commissioner for learning disabilities at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Too often people are targeted because of their vulnerability and we all need to send a clear message that hate crime has to stop. This card will not only help people know where to seek help but will enable us to act upon it when it happens.”
To get an ‘I want to report hate crime card’ or to find out more contact the Warwickshire Learning Disability Partnership Board office on 01926 742414.
