Sir Graham meets vulnerable people he has pledged to protect
January 26th, 2015
Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living (CAIL) has invited the Police and Crime Commissioner to explain to vulnerable people across Cambridgeshire what his administration is doing to keep them safe and meet Cambridgeshire Police’s equality objectives.[i] Sir Graham will attend the ‘Crime, Prevention and Safety’ event on 5th February in Ely, organised by CAIL, the only pan-disability user led organisation in the county. The Mayor of Ely City, Lis Every and the Mayor of Cambridge, Gerri Bird, a long term campaigner for disability rights, will also be in attendance.
Hate crime is on the rise and whilst according to the Home Office in the year 2013/14 only 4% of all (reported) hate crime was disability related,[ii] for the same year Stop Hate UK reported that the most common hate crime motivation was Disability.[iii] It is thought that the discrepancy in the figures is due to a lack of reporting. CAIL is holding an event to raise awareness of what Hate Crime is and how to respond to it, encourage reporting, and promote local support services and resources for those affected. The event is open to all but is particularly aimed at those with a disability, their carers and families and the people who work with them; such as Service Providers, Adult Social Care officers at Cambridgeshire County Council and the many charitable organisations that support people to live as independently as possible.
Speakers will include Graham Lewis, a Trustee for Stop Hate UK who told us “Hate Crime has a significant impact on victims, their families, friends, carers and on the wider community. Our experience of working with victims of [Learning Disability] Hate Crime tells us that some people believe that the incidents they have experienced are not serious enough to report to the police.” And James Codling, Adult Safeguarding Training Organiser for Cambridgeshire County Council, who says “this event, which brings together service users, providers and the voluntary sector is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the responsibility we all share to protect people’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect”.
[i] Accessed at https://www.cambs.police.uk/help/EqualityObjectiveFramework/ Cambs Police’s first 3 equality objectives are listed as:
- To improve the ways in which Cambridgeshire Constabulary interacts and works with those having protected characteristics in order to improve service delivery.
- To improve the constabulary’s understanding of the views, needs and expectations of those victims with protected characteristics to ensure they are satisfied with the services they receive.
- To protect and meet the needs of the most vulnerable individuals and communities.
[ii] http://www.report-it.org.uk/files/home_office_hate_crime_data_201314.pdf
[iii] http://www.stophateuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Stop-Hate-UK-Stats-Report-2013-14-Final.pdf
Contact details for more information:
Beth McCabe, Development Officer
beth@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk
0300 111 2301 (mon, tues, thurs)
Alena Taylor, Chief Officer
alena@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk
0300 111 2301, 07905 282230 (mon, tues & thurs only)
Notes to editor
The event will run from 10am – 3pm at The Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely, CB7 4BB. The Mayors of Ely and Cambridge are expected to arrive at 12.30 and Sir Graham by 2pm for his speech at 2.15pm.
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