EHRC to launch harassment inquiry

By Paul Carter

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced that it is to conduct a formal inquiry into disability harassment in England and Wales.

The inquiry, which was announced to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities, will also investigate how what public authorities are doing to protect disabled people’s human rights.

The Commission has stated that any authorities found not to be meeting their obligations could face legal action to force them to comply.

Mike Smith, Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said that the recent case involving Fiona Pilkington and her daughter showed how preventative action and early intervention from public authorities were essential.

He said: “Disabled people experiencing harassment can become conditioned to hostile treatment, or are sometimes told to ignore it by those around them – including by public authorities. They may also go to enormous lengths to avoid putting themselves at risk which can limit their freedom and opportunities. These are unacceptable outcomes for anyone in our society.    

“Individual incidents can also have a much wider ‘ripple effect’, as other disabled people become aware that targeted violence and hostility is happening in their community may then fear for their own safety.”

Last year, Disability Now co-published a report on disability hate crime with the charity Scope, and the United Kingdom Disabled People’s Council.

It found that disabled people are four times more likely to be the victim of a crime than other people and are twice as likely to be the victim of a violent attack.

Ruth Scott, Scope’s director of policy and campaigns, welcomed the EHRC’s decision to conduct an inquiry.

“Specifically, we would like to see the inquiry focus on how public authorities are raising awareness of disability related harassment among disabled people, to increase their confidence in reporting such cases, and supporting and training frontline staff across public authorities to ensure they respond appropriately and promptly,” she said.

“We would also like to see the inquiry investigate how public authorities can take proactive steps to identify and confront particular types of harassment, either in specific geographical hotspots or against particular groups of disabled people, so that good practice and effective interventions can be shared.”