South Yorkshire Police report increase in hate crime victims coming forward

More hate crime victims in South Yorkshire are coming forward to report offences, according to the police.
Chief Supt Sarah PoolmanChief Supt Sarah Poolman
Chief Supt Sarah Poolman

The force said the reporting of disability hate crime has increased both locally and nationally.

Police chiefs said it has been ‘notoriously under reported in the past’ but victims are now coming forward more.

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The Crown Prosecution Service has revealed that the proportion of those convicted of a crime and who received a tougher sentence for the ‘hate’ aspect is higher than ever before.

In convicted cases where the prosecution applied to the court for a sentence increase to take account of hate, it was granted in 77.5 per cent of cases, compared to 73.6 per cent last year.

In 2007/08 it was just 2.3 per cent of cases.

Max Hill QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “All crime has a terrible impact on victims but hate crime is especially nasty because it targets people for who they are. It has no place in today’s Britain.

“As prosecutors we will take cases to court and apply for higher sentences to take account of the hostility that drove offenders. It won’t undo the harm done but victims can be reassured that the justice system is working as it should.”

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The figures also show that in the 12 months to March, the CPS prosecuted 10,950 hate crime cases in England and Wales and the conviction rate was more than 85 per cent.

Chief Superintendent Sarah Poolman, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “Disability hate crime is a strand which has been notoriously under reported in the past, so we are really pleased to see such an increase in reports, both locally and nationally.

“The last thing we want is crimes motivated by prejudice or hostility towards a person’s disability to not be investigated, so we have purposely worked closely with victims, carers and community support groups over the past few years to raise awareness, build confidence and better understand how we can best deal with cases.

“Our work with support groups and partners has been absolutely vital to raise awareness – it’s important that people who might not recognise they are victim of hate crime have someone who can report this on their behalf.”