ABSTRACT
Disability hate crimes in the United Kingdom have some similar features to those in the US (for instance, although they are typically hyperviolent, they are almost never officially recognized), but the primary difference has been the effectiveness of disability organizations in publicizing such crimes and demanding more effective responses. Campaigns by disability organizations – especially through the disability magazine Disability Now, and in particular the publication ‘Getting Away with Murder’, written by Katherine Quarmby, a comprehensive report about the failure of authorities to respond appropriately to many disability hate crimes – raised community awareness of the problem and increased the pressure on authorities to respond appropriately ( Disability Now et al., 2008). Disability Now published an in-depth investigation into the deaths of five disabled people in 2009: Steven Hoskin, Barrier-John Horrell, Rikii Judkins, Raymond Atherton, and Kevin Davies. This report was so groundbreaking, so influential, that it deserves detailed attention. It basically put disability hate crimes on the forefront of the disability movement’s political agenda in the UK – and resulted in changes in policy and practice from the Government, the Crown Prosecution Service, police, disability organizations, and many other agencies. Disability Now also published an analysis of 51 crimes which were identified as ‘potential disability hate crimes’. Also written by Katherine Quarmby, the ‘Hate Crime Dossier’ compiled by Disability Now is incredibly powerful reading – containing cases of murder, torture, assault, grievous bodily harm, theft and arson. These two documents will be used as an entrée to discussing hate crimes in the United Kingdom.
