Is this a hate crime? — Scope | Disability forum
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Is this a hate crime?

Wibbles
Wibbles Community member Posts: 1,460 Pioneering
We are being hit by a number of events that are really getting us down.. 
We had a wheely bin full of rubbish emptied over our garden wall last night - I know that it was Halloween but no excuse...... 
Previous to that we had a number of capping stones removed from the wall - which cost £60 to replace..
Last winter we had a tyre dumped over the wall - which cost us £10 to dispose of at the tip
I haven't a clue who is doing this but it's really getting down
Is it worth speaking to the police? 

Comments

  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 32,657 Disability Gamechanger
    @Wibbles you could speak to them, I don't think they would do alot tho, might just be isolated incidences.
    Have any neighbours got a doorbell camera? That shows anything. It might be worth putting one in yourself.
  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 2,496 Disability Gamechanger
    edited November 2022
    It's only a hate crime if it's specifically being done because of who you are.  If you just happen to live on street corner with a low wall, it's more likely to just be opportunists who aren't even considering who lives at the property.

    Police aren't likely to be interested unless you have some evidence from a camera or witnesses.
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Campaigns Posts: 12,462 Disability Gamechanger
    edited November 2022
    I'm sorry you've been experiencing this @wibbles. I'd echo what the others have said, in terms of seeing whether you can get any evidence of the incidences occurring. 

    Victim Support have some information about hate crime on their website:
    Hate crime is the term used to describe a crime against someone based on a part of their identity.

    There are five categories of ‘identity’ when a person is targeted because of a hostility or prejudice towards their:
    • disability
    • race or ethnicity
    • religion or belief (which includes non-belief)
    • sexual orientation
    • transgender identity.
    Victim Support also recognises crimes targeted at alternative sub-cultures (such as Goth) as a form of hate crime.
    They also have some information about hate incidences on that page:
    Hate incidents can feel like crimes to people who suffer them and often escalate to crimes or tension in a community. You can report such incidents, but the police can only prosecute when the law is broken. However, the police can work with other organisations to prevent the situation escalating.

    Here's how you can contact Victim Support if you'd like some more guidance on this. 
    National Campaigns Officer, she/her

    Join our call for an equal future.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Cctv would be a good idea for the future You can get it quite cheap and can be connected to your phone 

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