How can we best secure disabled people's safety in the community?

Question

How can we ensure disabled people feel that the criminal justice system is on their side?

Research by Mencap found that nine out of ten people with a learning disability reported having experienced harassment.

One in four disabled people fear being alone after dark, compared with one in ten non-disabled people.

Eight per cent of disabled people in London suffered a violent attack during 2001/2 compared with four per cent of non-disabled people.

Research by Greater London Action on Disability (GLAD) found that ‘The attacks have a major impact on disabled people. Around a third have had to avoid specific places and change their usual routine. One in four has moved home as a result of the attack. Many disabled people are not confident that the police can help to stop the incidents.’

Disabled women, and disabled people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual or from ethnic minority communities may face additional fears or harassment.

Answer 1

The reality is that the police can't prevent incidents, or stop harassment; they cannot turn people into decent human beings. Warning people to stop their harassment or face eviction, ASBO's and prosecution might stop the more overt problems, but it doesn't change the way that people feel.
The root of the problem is intolerance. That's what our society needs to tackle, and to do it there needs to be a change in the school system. Cruelty, violence and ignorance are relatively easy to tackle with young children; even if their parents are intolerant. Its a subject that needs to be reinforced throughout the school system.
There are sharks and predators in our society and they will continue to look for easy prey. We have never been completely free of crime, but we can reduce certain types of crime by making it clear that the problem exists and is socially unnacceptabe; drink driving campaigns do reduce the overall levels of drink driving, elder abuse is now more widely recognised, child abusers are vilified. Make muggers who target the disabled objects of ridicule.
All the criminal justice system can do is to catch and punish offenders; people need to understand that. Its sounds unfair, but a separate system is needed for victim support and crime prevention.

Answer 2

Treat them EQUALLY