Safer Communities Torbay arranges Disbility Hate Crime Training

On Friday 25 June at Paignton Police Station, during Learning Disability Awareness Week, Safer Communities Torbay arranged for a number of frontline staff from across the partnership to attend VOICE UK’s Disability Hate Crime Training.  

The aim of the workshop was to increase awareness of Disability Hate Crime, understand its prevalence, define and identify related incidents and offences and recognise and overcome difficulties in addressing Disability Hate Crime.

Mandy Riley, Project Manager Safer Communities Torbay, said;

“Disabled people are four times more likely to be victims of crime, Safer Communities Torbay is committed to raising the awareness of hate crimes and the effects that it has on Torbay’s communities.’

One of the delegates commented, ‘Despite being a police officer of 13 years service, I had only narrowly thought about hate crime in general terms of race, religion and sexuality.  However, all that changed when VOICE UK spoke and immediately heightened my awareness of disability hate crime and the impact it can have.’

It is hoped that more Hate Crime training will be rolled out to more frontline staff across the Partnerships organisations.

VOICE UK, is a national charity supporting victims of crime who have learning disabilities, providing a helpline for victims of crime and their families and carers. The helpline number is 0808 802 8686. It is staffed 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am - 7pm Wednesday and Friday and Saturday mornings.  VOICE UK knows people with learning disabilities are more likely to be victims of crime and offers a range of ways to support them.  For further information please visit www.voiceuk.org.uk or email helpline@voiceuk.org.uk.