Police Scotland launch #DontTolerateHate campaign

What would you do if you were a victim of hate crime, and were being targeted because you had a disability? Would you report it to the police? Or what would you do if you saw someone else being victimised in this way? Would you take any action?

These are the questions Police Scotland is asking people
across the country as its #DontTolerateHate campaign launched today (Wednesday,
4 March, 2020) at Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow.

One in five people in Scotland are registered as having a
disability, yet this category of hate crime accounts for only four per cent of
reports to Police Scotland, and there is strong evidence to suggest this type
of offence is significantly under reported. This campaign has been designed to
encourage people to come forward, to speak up and refuse to tolerate this kind
of behaviour.

The campaign is being supported by charity I Am Me Scotland
as well as people with lived experience of disability hate crime who have
spoken out about their experiences, and feature in the campaign posters.

Police Scotland knows there are many reasons hate crime
isn’t always reported: this can include victims not knowing who to talk to, how
to report it, thinking abuse is just a part of life, or not fully understanding
what constitutes hate crime.

A range of reporting options are available to support
victims or bystanders to feel able to report an incident, including: in person
at a police station or by speaking to an officer in the street; by telephone
via 101, or 999 in the event of an emergency; using Police Scotland’s online
reporting form; or through a third party reporting centre. The organisation
will also make any reasonable adjustments you need to support you to make a
report.

This type of abuse can have a significant impact on victims,
their families and friends, as well as on wider communities and can leave
people with a disability feeling isolated and marginalised as it erodes their
confidence.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, Police Scotland
strategic lead for Partnerships, Prevention and Community Wellbeing, said:
“Disability hate crime is never acceptable. It is deplorable for anyone to be
targeted because of any kind of disability. Sadly it’s happening day in and day
out across the country, but people should never just accept it as a part of
life.

“Our message to everyone – whether they’ve been a victim of
hate crime, or witnessed it – is this: don’t tolerate hate. Please report this
kind of behaviour. It is crucial everyone plays their part in stamping out this
kind of insidious victimisation, and help us bring offenders to justice.

“We understand it can be difficult for people to speak to
the police about an emotional issue like this, but we will help and support you
in any way we can throughout the entire process. Anyone reporting disability
hate crime will be treated sympathetically, taken seriously, and their
experience will be thoroughly investigated.”

Eileen MacLean, chair of anti-disability hate crime charity,
I Am Me Scotland, said: “We are pleased to support Police Scotland’s new
disability hate crime campaign. This is recognised, nationally, as one of the
most under-reported crimes in the UK. It is vital people report incidents to
police, and to tackle this, there are a lot of options for people to report
hate crime, including through our free Keep Safe Scotland app.

“Keep Safe is a partnership with Police Scotland which
creates a network of Safe Places for anyone who may feel lost, scared or
vulnerable when they’re out and about. The Keep Safe initiative helps disabled
people feel safe in their communities and to enjoy their daily life free from
the fear of harassment and abuse.”

The campaign will run 4-30 March 2020 across a range of
platforms. More information is available via www.scotland.police.uk/hate
including links to a downloadable reporting form and a portal to report a hate
crime incident.