'Further action needed' to prevent disability hate crime

4th November 2009

The need to ensure disabled people are not subjected to hate crimes at work and in the community has been highlighted by a trade union.

General secretary of Unison Dave Prentis called for more to be done to stamp out the problem, noting that disabled people are four times more likely to be assaulted.

He made the comments in a speech to the organisation's national disabled members conference in Blackpool.

And minister for disabled people Jonathan Shaw said the government is planning action to tackle the challenges faced.

"There is no place in our society for disability hate crime and we must all work together to change public attitudes and make our vision of equality a reality," he remarked.

Earlier this week, a Unison survey revealed that 35 per cent of disabled employees have experienced some form of bullying at work in the last six months, with more than a fifth reporting an ongoing problem.

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