Basingstoke MP and Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller, attended a disability hate crime event in the Houses of Parliament recently to launch the start of Learning Disability Week  (18th – 24th June 2012).

The event, organised by learning disability charity Mencap, aimed to raise awareness of the issue of disability hate crime and highlight the positive progress that has been made since the launch of Mencap’s Stand by me campaign last year.

Hampshire Police is one of the 34 forces which has signed up to Mencap’s Stand by me police promise and formally committed to supporting people with a learning disability and increasing hate crime convictions.

As many as 9 out of 10 people with a learning disability have been a victim of hate crime and bullying.

This year during Learning Disability Week, police and crime commissioner candidates across England and Wales will face questions from disabled people and their families, who will demand that new police and crime plans include a commitment to tackling disability hate crime, ahead of public elections in November. 

Maria said: “I am glad to support Mencap’s Stand by me campaign. I am delighted that Hampshire Police has committed itself to supporting people with a learning disability. Tackling disability hate crime has to be a high priority, and victims with a learning disability need to be provided with the best support possible.”