Written question asked by Lord Morris of Manchester (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Browning (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 June 2011.

Crime: Hate

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the findings of Mencap's Hate Crime Research Report; and what action they have taken or will be taking in response to the report.

Answer: The Government welcome the Mencap report in highlighting disability hate crime, which as recent events have shown is still an issue for too many people in this country. The Government take the issue of hate crime very seriously and are working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and others to improve the reporting and recording of all hate crime, including those motivated by hostility towards disabled victims. Our cross-government hate crime programme will consider the report in the development of the Government's new hate crime strategy. Although adopting Mencap’s ““Stand By Me”” charter is a decision for individual police forces and chief constables, we would encourage all police forces to sign up to it.

Secondary information