As this stage of our ongoing disability hate crime research project comes to an end, we’re taking the opportunity to review the year-long project in numbers. It’s been a huge success, and we hope this blog captures some of the highlights, and makes it clear how far we all still need to go to build a transport system on which disability hate crime no longer occurs.

The Stats

11,719

The number of recorded incidents of disability hate crime in England and Wales in 2024. Each one represents a serious and significant attack, not only on the individual in question, but on the tolerant society that we all want to see.

18%

The percentage reduction in disability hate crime from 2023 to 2024 reported by the Home Office, based on figures they collected from police and other authorities.

70.1%

The percentage of respondents to our survey who didn’t report the hate crime they experienced to police or other authorities. Until this number is brought down, we cannot safely celebrate any reduction in disability hate crime figures.

55.1%

The percentage of victims of disability hate crime who told us that awareness of disability amongst authorities was a barrier to reporting hate crime.

39.6%

The percentage of victims of disability hate crime who told us they have rarely, or never, used public transport again since the incident. Public transport is for everyone, and we must make systems work for disabled people so they have the confidence to travel.

The Project

164

People who gave full responses to our disability hate crime survey. Our thanks to all of them.

8

Focus groups we held across the country. We visited Plymouth, Birmingham, Leeds, York and London, speaking to dozens of victims of disability hate crime about their experiences, and about the changes they want to see.

6

Episodes of Journey to Safety, our disability hate crime podcast, which featured guests from a wide variety of fields, including academic experts, transport providers, campaigners, and victims of hate crime.

89

Pages in our final report, which includes many recommendations for government, public transport providers, and law and order bodies, and which we are launching at an event in May.

The Team

5

Dedicated disability hate crime researchers, all with lived experience of disability.

5060

Approximate number of hours the team put into the project over the last year.

The Politicians

36

MPs who, at the time of writing, have signed our Early Day Motion on disability hate crime, calling on the government to take immediate action. Our thanks to Christine Jardine MP for getting that up and running, and acting as primary sponsor.

6

Written questions submitted to the Home Office, Department for Transport, and Ministry of Justice on our behalf, pressing them on commitments to improve public transport and crime reporting procedures for disabled people. Many thanks to Edward Morello MP, Dr Ellie Chowns MP, and Peter Fortune MP for submitting questions for us.

1

Times disability hate crime was mentioned in the House of Commons last year.

11

Times the James Bond films were mentioned in the House of Commons last year.

0

Times disability hate crime has been mentioned so far in the House of Commons this year. We still have a long way to go.

My thanks to everyone who has read these blogs, and to all those who have engaged with us on the project. Disability hate crime is a serious issue that simply doesn’t get the attention it deserves, and I hope our project has gone some way to address this. United Response will continue to campaign on this issue, so if you feel you want to get involved, please write to policy@unitedresponse.org.uk, and help us put a stop to disability hate crime once and for all.

Click here to read the previous entry in the Experts on Disability Hate Crime blog, which looks at government plans to legislate on disability hate crime.

Image credit © iStock.

  • Dr Freddie Jobbins is a Disability Hate Crime Project Researcher for United Response